diff --git a/src/util/vircgroup.c b/src/util/vircgroup.c
index 532e70422e..f5d6bbca13 100644
--- a/src/util/vircgroup.c
+++ b/src/util/vircgroup.c
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ static int virCgroupGetValueStr(virCgroupPtr group,
         VIR_DEBUG("Failed to read %s: %m\n", keypath);
     } else {
         /* Terminated with '\n' has sometimes harmful effects to the caller */
-        if ((*value)[rc - 1] == '\n')
+        if (rc > 0 && (*value)[rc - 1] == '\n')
             (*value)[rc - 1] = '\0';
 
         rc = 0;