diff --git a/drivers/md/dm-flakey.c b/drivers/md/dm-flakey.c
index 7efbdb42cf3b..3b34270ce607 100644
--- a/drivers/md/dm-flakey.c
+++ b/drivers/md/dm-flakey.c
@@ -124,9 +124,9 @@ static int parse_features(struct dm_arg_set *as, struct flakey_c *fc,
 			 * Direction r or w?
 			 */
 			arg_name = dm_shift_arg(as);
-			if (!strcasecmp(arg_name, "w"))
+			if (arg_name && !strcasecmp(arg_name, "w"))
 				fc->corrupt_bio_rw = WRITE;
-			else if (!strcasecmp(arg_name, "r"))
+			else if (arg_name && !strcasecmp(arg_name, "r"))
 				fc->corrupt_bio_rw = READ;
 			else {
 				ti->error = "Invalid corrupt bio direction (r or w)";