diff --git a/ip/iplink.c b/ip/iplink.c
index 4060845c..82275b4e 100644
--- a/ip/iplink.c
+++ b/ip/iplink.c
@@ -336,6 +336,8 @@ static int iplink_modify(int cmd, unsigned int flags, int argc, char **argv)
 
 	if (name) {
 		len = strlen(name) + 1;
+		if (len == 1)
+			invarg("null string is not valid name\n");
 		if (len > IFNAMSIZ)
 			invarg("\"name\" too long\n", *argv);
 		addattr_l(&req.n, sizeof(req), IFLA_IFNAME, name, len);