diff --git a/tools/net/bpf_dbg.c b/tools/net/bpf_dbg.c
index 4f254bcc4423..61b9aa5d6415 100644
--- a/tools/net/bpf_dbg.c
+++ b/tools/net/bpf_dbg.c
@@ -1063,7 +1063,7 @@ static int cmd_load_pcap(char *file)
 
 static int cmd_load(char *arg)
 {
-	char *subcmd, *cont, *tmp = strdup(arg);
+	char *subcmd, *cont = NULL, *tmp = strdup(arg);
 	int ret = CMD_OK;
 
 	subcmd = strtok_r(tmp, " ", &cont);
@@ -1073,7 +1073,10 @@ static int cmd_load(char *arg)
 		bpf_reset();
 		bpf_reset_breakpoints();
 
-		ret = cmd_load_bpf(cont);
+		if (!cont)
+			ret = CMD_ERR;
+		else
+			ret = cmd_load_bpf(cont);
 	} else if (matches(subcmd, "pcap") == 0) {
 		ret = cmd_load_pcap(cont);
 	} else {