diff --git a/sound/core/control.c b/sound/core/control.c
index 374e703d15a9..5e51857635e6 100644
--- a/sound/core/control.c
+++ b/sound/core/control.c
@@ -1648,6 +1648,10 @@ static int snd_ctl_elem_init_enum_names(struct user_element *ue)
 	/* check that there are enough valid names */
 	p = names;
 	for (i = 0; i < ue->info.value.enumerated.items; ++i) {
+		if (buf_len == 0) {
+			kvfree(names);
+			return -EINVAL;
+		}
 		name_len = strnlen(p, buf_len);
 		if (name_len == 0 || name_len >= 64 || name_len == buf_len) {
 			kvfree(names);