diff --git a/str2host.c b/str2host.c
index b274b17..f2a317b 100644
--- a/str2host.c
+++ b/str2host.c
@@ -1525,8 +1525,10 @@ ldns_str2rdf_long_str(ldns_rdf **rd, const char *str)
 	if (! str) {
 		return LDNS_STATUS_SYNTAX_BAD_ESCAPE;
 	}
-	length = (size_t)(dp - data);
-
+	if (!(length = (size_t)(dp - data))) {
+		LDNS_FREE(data);
+		return LDNS_STATUS_SYNTAX_EMPTY;
+	}
 	/* Lose the overmeasure */
 	data = LDNS_XREALLOC(dp = data, uint8_t, length);
	if (! data) {