diff --git a/src/core/settings.c b/src/core/settings.c
index 75253186..e660ae7c 100644
--- a/src/core/settings.c
+++ b/src/core/settings.c
@@ -381,7 +381,8 @@ int fetch_setting_len ( struct settings *settings, struct setting *setting ) {
 int fetch_string_setting ( struct settings *settings, struct setting *setting,
 			   char *data, size_t len ) {
 	memset ( data, 0, len );
-	return fetch_setting ( settings, setting, data, ( len - 1 ) );
+	return fetch_setting ( settings, setting, data,
+			       ( ( len > 0 ) ? ( len - 1 ) : 0 ) );
 }
 
 /**