diff --git a/drivers/usb/core/message.c b/drivers/usb/core/message.c
index 30e9e680c74cc85673600c9f74f744f80f74620d..4d59d927ae3e39c6238b06fa3540f4e745beeeee 100644
--- a/drivers/usb/core/message.c
+++ b/drivers/usb/core/message.c
@@ -783,6 +783,9 @@ int usb_get_descriptor(struct usb_device *dev, unsigned char type,
 	int i;
 	int result;
 
+	if (size <= 0)		/* No point in asking for no data */
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	memset(buf, 0, size);	/* Make sure we parse really received data */
 
 	for (i = 0; i < 3; ++i) {
@@ -832,6 +835,9 @@ static int usb_get_string(struct usb_device *dev, unsigned short langid,
 	int i;
 	int result;
 
+	if (size <= 0)		/* No point in asking for no data */
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	for (i = 0; i < 3; ++i) {
 		/* retry on length 0 or stall; some devices are flakey */
 		result = usb_control_msg(dev, usb_rcvctrlpipe(dev, 0),