diff --git a/arch/xtensa/platforms/iss/console.c b/arch/xtensa/platforms/iss/console.c
index af81a62faba64204015bc7279899a7d05b891929..3cda02f0a8d6cfe6dd76c4c72806e1c0e9874b4d 100644
--- a/arch/xtensa/platforms/iss/console.c
+++ b/arch/xtensa/platforms/iss/console.c
@@ -224,10 +224,12 @@ late_initcall(rs_init);
 
 static void iss_console_write(struct console *co, const char *s, unsigned count)
 {
-	int len = strlen(s);
+	int len;
 
-	if (s != 0 && *s != 0)
+	if (s != 0 && *s != 0) {
+		len = strlen(s);
 		simc_write(1, s, count < len ? count : len);
+	}
 }
 
 static struct tty_driver* iss_console_device(struct console *c, int *index)