diff --git a/tools/perf/util/print_binary.c b/tools/perf/util/print_binary.c
index 599a1543871d..13fdc51c61d9 100644
--- a/tools/perf/util/print_binary.c
+++ b/tools/perf/util/print_binary.c
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ int is_printable_array(char *p, unsigned int len)
 
 	len--;
 
-	for (i = 0; i < len; i++) {
+	for (i = 0; i < len && p[i]; i++) {
 		if (!isprint(p[i]) && !isspace(p[i]))
 			return 0;
 	}