diff --git a/kernel/audit.c b/kernel/audit.c
index dfc45063cb56..fcfbb3476ccd 100644
--- a/kernel/audit.c
+++ b/kernel/audit.c
@@ -1325,6 +1325,9 @@ static int audit_receive_msg(struct sk_buff *skb, struct nlmsghdr *nlh)
 	case AUDIT_FIRST_USER_MSG2 ... AUDIT_LAST_USER_MSG2:
 		if (!audit_enabled && msg_type != AUDIT_USER_AVC)
 			return 0;
+		/* exit early if there isn't at least one character to print */
+		if (data_len < 2)
+			return -EINVAL;
 
 		err = audit_filter(msg_type, AUDIT_FILTER_USER);
 		if (err == 1) { /* match or error */