diff --git a/gst/subparse/samiparse.c b/gst/subparse/samiparse.c
index 517e959a91..377c6d730c 100644
--- a/gst/subparse/samiparse.c
+++ b/gst/subparse/samiparse.c
@@ -504,7 +504,8 @@ html_context_handle_element (HtmlContext * ctxt,
     }
 
     length = strlen (attr_value);
-    if (attr_value[length - 1] == '"' || attr_value[length - 1] == '\'') {
+    if (length > 0 && (attr_value[length - 1] == '"'
+            || attr_value[length - 1] == '\'')) {
       attr_value[length - 1] = '\0';
     }