diff --git a/lib/eal/linux/eal_dev.c b/lib/eal/linux/eal_dev.c
index 06820a3666..6aaeffb4e9 100644
--- a/lib/eal/linux/eal_dev.c
+++ b/lib/eal/linux/eal_dev.c
@@ -160,6 +160,9 @@ dev_uev_parse(const char *buf, struct rte_dev_event *event, int length)
 				break;
 			buf++;
 		}
+		if (i >= length)
+			break;
+
 		/**
 		 * check device uevent from kernel side, no need to check
 		 * uevent from udev.