diff --git a/lib/vhost/vhost.c b/lib/vhost/vhost.c
index e639e7d5d..08f3ad813 100644
--- a/lib/vhost/vhost.c
+++ b/lib/vhost/vhost.c
@@ -1128,6 +1128,9 @@ spdk_vhost_set_socket_path(const char *basename)
 
 	if (basename && strlen(basename) > 0) {
 		ret = snprintf(dev_dirname, sizeof(dev_dirname) - 2, "%s", basename);
+		if (ret <= 0) {
+			return -EINVAL;
+		}
 		if ((size_t)ret >= sizeof(dev_dirname) - 2) {
 			SPDK_ERRLOG("Char dev dir path length %d is too long\n", ret);
 			return -EINVAL;