diff --git a/drivers/hid/hid-lg4ff.c b/drivers/hid/hid-lg4ff.c
index 1b109a5cf922..83ae2a639a03 100644
--- a/drivers/hid/hid-lg4ff.c
+++ b/drivers/hid/hid-lg4ff.c
@@ -880,6 +880,12 @@ static ssize_t lg4ff_alternate_modes_store(struct device *dev, struct device_att
 		return -ENOMEM;
 
 	i = strlen(lbuf);
+
+	if (i == 0) {
+		kfree(lbuf);
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	if (lbuf[i-1] == '\n') {
 		if (i == 1) {
 			kfree(lbuf);