diff --git a/service-t/src/com/android/server/ethernet/EthernetTracker.java b/service-t/src/com/android/server/ethernet/EthernetTracker.java
index 08923a9a86..38248bf429 100644
--- a/service-t/src/com/android/server/ethernet/EthernetTracker.java
+++ b/service-t/src/com/android/server/ethernet/EthernetTracker.java
@@ -287,6 +287,8 @@ public class EthernetTracker {
             // (for existing interfaces). Up until then, this code runs for every network interface
             // on the system.
             final String ifname = msg.getInterfaceName();
+            if (TextUtils.isEmpty(ifname)) return;  // TODO: can this happen?
+
             final EthernetPort port = new EthernetPort(ifname, mac, ifinfomsg.index);
 
             switch (msg.getHeader().nlmsg_type) {