diff --git a/drivers/net/bonding/bond_options.c b/drivers/net/bonding/bond_options.c
index 933087d85549..68fa3e891e6f 100644
--- a/drivers/net/bonding/bond_options.c
+++ b/drivers/net/bonding/bond_options.c
@@ -1084,9 +1084,9 @@ static int bond_option_arp_ip_targets_set(struct bonding *bond,
 	__be32 target;
 
 	if (newval->string) {
-		if (!in4_pton(newval->string+1, -1, (u8 *)&target, -1, NULL)) {
-			netdev_err(bond->dev, "invalid ARP target %pI4 specified\n",
-				   &target);
+		if (strlen(newval->string) < 1 ||
+		    !in4_pton(newval->string + 1, -1, (u8 *)&target, -1, NULL)) {
+			netdev_err(bond->dev, "invalid ARP target specified\n");
 			return ret;
 		}
 		if (newval->string[0] == '+')