diff --git a/arch/xtensa/platforms/iss/console.c b/arch/xtensa/platforms/iss/console.c
index 21184488c277..f6e5fc5579be 100644
--- a/arch/xtensa/platforms/iss/console.c
+++ b/arch/xtensa/platforms/iss/console.c
@@ -186,10 +186,10 @@ late_initcall(rs_init);
 
 static void iss_console_write(struct console *co, const char *s, unsigned count)
 {
-	int len = strlen(s);
-
-	if (s != 0 && *s != 0)
+	if (s && *s != 0) {
+		int len = strlen(s);
 		simc_write(1, s, count < len ? count : len);
+	}
 }
 
 static struct tty_driver* iss_console_device(struct console *c, int *index)