diff --git a/kernel/kmod.c b/kernel/kmod.c
index 8241906..fb32636 100644
--- a/kernel/kmod.c
+++ b/kernel/kmod.c
@@ -147,6 +147,9 @@
 	 */
 	WARN_ON_ONCE(wait && current_is_async());
 
+	if (!modprobe_path[0])
+		return 0;
+
 	va_start(args, fmt);
 	ret = vsnprintf(module_name, MODULE_NAME_LEN, fmt, args);
 	va_end(args);
@@ -569,14 +572,6 @@
 	int retval = 0;
 
 	helper_lock();
-	if (!sub_info->path) {
-		retval = -EINVAL;
-		goto out;
-	}
-
-	if (sub_info->path[0] == '\0')
-		goto out;
-
 	if (!khelper_wq || usermodehelper_disabled) {
 		retval = -EBUSY;
 		goto out;