diff --git a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/cg_storage_multi.c b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/cg_storage_multi.c
index 621c57222191..63ee892bc757 100644
--- a/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/cg_storage_multi.c
+++ b/tools/testing/selftests/bpf/prog_tests/cg_storage_multi.c
@@ -56,8 +56,9 @@ static bool assert_storage_noexist(struct bpf_map *map, const void *key)
 
 static bool connect_send(const char *cgroup_path)
 {
-	bool res = true;
 	int server_fd = -1, client_fd = -1;
+	char message[] = "message";
+	bool res = true;
 
 	if (join_cgroup(cgroup_path))
 		goto out_clean;
@@ -70,7 +71,10 @@ static bool connect_send(const char *cgroup_path)
 	if (client_fd < 0)
 		goto out_clean;
 
-	if (send(client_fd, "message", strlen("message"), 0) < 0)
+	if (send(client_fd, &message, sizeof(message), 0) < 0)
+		goto out_clean;
+
+	if (read(server_fd, &message, sizeof(message)) < 0)
 		goto out_clean;
 
 	res = false;