diff --git a/arch/x86/kernel/apic_32.c b/arch/x86/kernel/apic_32.c
index f432d4833a12..039a8d4aaf62 100644
--- a/arch/x86/kernel/apic_32.c
+++ b/arch/x86/kernel/apic_32.c
@@ -1720,12 +1720,16 @@ static int __init parse_lapic_timer_c2_ok(char *arg)
 }
 early_param("lapic_timer_c2_ok", parse_lapic_timer_c2_ok);
 
-static int __init apic_set_verbosity(char *str)
+static int __init apic_set_verbosity(char *arg)
 {
-	if (strcmp("debug", str) == 0)
+	if (!arg)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
+	if (strcmp(arg, "debug") == 0)
 		apic_verbosity = APIC_DEBUG;
-	else if (strcmp("verbose", str) == 0)
+	else if (strcmp(arg, "verbose") == 0)
 		apic_verbosity = APIC_VERBOSE;
+
 	return 0;
 }
 early_param("apic", apic_set_verbosity);