diff --git a/lib/utils_io.c b/lib/utils_io.c
index 705c0515..801f6d6f 100644
--- a/lib/utils_io.c
+++ b/lib/utils_io.c
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ ssize_t read_lseek_blockwise(int fd, size_t bsize, size_t alignment,
 		length -= innerCount;
 	}
 
-	ret = read_blockwise(fd, bsize, alignment, buf, length);
+	ret = length ? read_blockwise(fd, bsize, alignment, buf, length) : 0;
 	if (ret >= 0)
 		ret += innerCount;
 out: