diff --git a/arch/mips/include/asm/machine.h b/arch/mips/include/asm/machine.h
index e0d9b373d415..f83879dadd1e 100644
--- a/arch/mips/include/asm/machine.h
+++ b/arch/mips/include/asm/machine.h
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ mips_machine_is_compatible(const struct mips_machine *mach, const void *fdt)
 	if (!mach->matches)
 		return NULL;
 
-	for (match = mach->matches; match->compatible; match++) {
+	for (match = mach->matches; match->compatible[0]; match++) {
 		if (fdt_node_check_compatible(fdt, 0, match->compatible) == 0)
 			return match;
 	}