diff --git a/tools/tracing/rtla/src/actions.c b/tools/tracing/rtla/src/actions.c
index d9c1db5d97d4..a42615011962 100644
--- a/tools/tracing/rtla/src/actions.c
+++ b/tools/tracing/rtla/src/actions.c
@@ -141,6 +141,8 @@ actions_parse(struct actions *self, const char *trigger, const char *tracefn)
 
 	strcpy(trigger_c, trigger);
 	token = strtok(trigger_c, ",");
+	if (!token)
+		return -1;
 
 	if (strcmp(token, "trace") == 0)
 		type = ACTION_TRACE_OUTPUT;