diff --git a/fs/nfs/super.c b/fs/nfs/super.c
index 22ce3c8a2f46..0570391eaa16 100644
--- a/fs/nfs/super.c
+++ b/fs/nfs/super.c
@@ -1895,6 +1895,11 @@ static int nfs_parse_devname(const char *dev_name,
 	size_t len;
 	char *end;
 
+	if (unlikely(!dev_name || !*dev_name)) {
+		dfprintk(MOUNT, "NFS: device name not specified\n");
+		return -EINVAL;
+	}
+
 	/* Is the host name protected with square brakcets? */
 	if (*dev_name == '[') {
 		end = strchr(++dev_name, ']');