diff --git a/std/fmt/index.zig b/std/fmt/index.zig
index f4f9efee37..a9ae979323 100644
--- a/std/fmt/index.zig
+++ b/std/fmt/index.zig
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ pub fn formatType(
             },
             builtin.TypeInfo.Pointer.Size.Many => {
                 if (ptr_info.child == u8) {
-                    if (fmt[0] == 's') {
+                    if (fmt.len > 0 and fmt[0] == 's') {
                         const len = std.cstr.len(value);
                         return formatText(value[0..len], fmt, context, Errors, output);
                     }