diff --git a/arch/powerpc/platforms/pseries/lparcfg.c b/arch/powerpc/platforms/pseries/lparcfg.c
index 54b7ecf375b5..3280b7968cab 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/platforms/pseries/lparcfg.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/platforms/pseries/lparcfg.c
@@ -699,7 +699,7 @@ static ssize_t lparcfg_write(struct file *file, const char __user * buf,
 	if (!firmware_has_feature(FW_FEATURE_SPLPAR))
 		return -EINVAL;
 
-	if (count > sizeof(kbuf))
+	if (count == 0 || count > sizeof(kbuf))
 		return -EINVAL;
 
 	if (copy_from_user(kbuf, buf, count))