diff --git a/sound/pci/hda/hda_intel.c b/sound/pci/hda/hda_intel.c
index 2e91a991eb15..0baffcdee8f9 100644
--- a/sound/pci/hda/hda_intel.c
+++ b/sound/pci/hda/hda_intel.c
@@ -2703,7 +2703,7 @@ static int __devinit azx_probe(struct pci_dev *pci,
 	if (err < 0)
 		goto out_free;
 #ifdef CONFIG_SND_HDA_PATCH_LOADER
-	if (patch[dev]) {
+	if (patch[dev] && *patch[dev]) {
 		snd_printk(KERN_ERR SFX "Applying patch firmware '%s'\n",
 			   patch[dev]);
 		err = snd_hda_load_patch(chip->bus, patch[dev]);