diff --git a/src/loader/loader.c b/src/loader/loader.c
index 15bdcbfff07..e49d715d311 100644
--- a/src/loader/loader.c
+++ b/src/loader/loader.c
@@ -766,7 +766,7 @@ loader_get_driver_for_fd(int fd)
     */
    if (__normal_user()) {
       const char *override = os_get_option("MESA_LOADER_DRIVER_OVERRIDE");
-      if (override)
+      if (override && strlen(override))
          return strdup(override);
    }