diff --git a/kernel/trace/trace_hwlat.c b/kernel/trace/trace_hwlat.c
index 2f37a6e68aa9..b791524a6536 100644
--- a/kernel/trace/trace_hwlat.c
+++ b/kernel/trace/trace_hwlat.c
@@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ static int s_mode_show(struct seq_file *s, void *v)
 	else
 		seq_printf(s, "%s", thread_mode_str[mode]);
 
-	if (mode != MODE_MAX)
+	if (mode < MODE_MAX - 1) /* if mode is any but last */
 		seq_puts(s, " ");
 
 	return 0;