diff --git a/drivers/base/firmware_class.c b/drivers/base/firmware_class.c
index bf424305f3dc..3d785ebb48d3 100644
--- a/drivers/base/firmware_class.c
+++ b/drivers/base/firmware_class.c
@@ -1105,6 +1105,9 @@ _request_firmware(const struct firmware **firmware_p, const char *name,
 	if (!firmware_p)
 		return -EINVAL;
 
+	if (!name || name[0] == '\0')
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	ret = _request_firmware_prepare(&fw, name, device);
 	if (ret <= 0) /* error or already assigned */
 		goto out;