diff --git a/drivers/thermal/thermal_sys.c b/drivers/thermal/thermal_sys.c
index 36e6f4d4ec3b..47498b871903 100644
--- a/drivers/thermal/thermal_sys.c
+++ b/drivers/thermal/thermal_sys.c
@@ -901,7 +901,7 @@ thermal_cooling_device_register(char *type, void *devdata,
 	struct thermal_zone_device *pos;
 	int result;
 
-	if (strlen(type) >= THERMAL_NAME_LENGTH)
+	if (type && strlen(type) >= THERMAL_NAME_LENGTH)
 		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
 
 	if (!ops || !ops->get_max_state || !ops->get_cur_state ||
@@ -918,7 +918,7 @@ thermal_cooling_device_register(char *type, void *devdata,
 		return ERR_PTR(result);
 	}
 
-	strcpy(cdev->type, type);
+	strcpy(cdev->type, type ? : "");
 	mutex_init(&cdev->lock);
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&cdev->thermal_instances);
 	cdev->ops = ops;
@@ -1344,7 +1344,7 @@ struct thermal_zone_device *thermal_zone_device_register(const char *type,
 	int count;
 	int passive = 0;
 
-	if (strlen(type) >= THERMAL_NAME_LENGTH)
+	if (type && strlen(type) >= THERMAL_NAME_LENGTH)
 		return ERR_PTR(-EINVAL);
 
 	if (trips > THERMAL_MAX_TRIPS || trips < 0 || mask >> trips)
@@ -1366,7 +1366,7 @@ struct thermal_zone_device *thermal_zone_device_register(const char *type,
 		return ERR_PTR(result);
 	}
 
-	strcpy(tz->type, type);
+	strcpy(tz->type, type ? : "");
 	tz->ops = ops;
 	tz->device.class = &thermal_class;
 	tz->devdata = devdata;