diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index a7650da..1d62f76 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+## [1.8.3]
+
+### Fixed
+ - return error on empty kind string
+
 ## [1.8.2]
 
 ### Fixed
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 53adb84..a7ee35a 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-1.8.2
+1.8.3
diff --git a/mei.c b/mei.c
index 6b52191..16a69fe 100644
--- a/mei.c
+++ b/mei.c
@@ -376,6 +376,12 @@ static inline int __mei_getkind(struct mei *me, const char *device, char *kind,
 		return -me->last_err;
 	}
 
+	if (len == 0) {
+		me->last_err = ENODATA;
+		close(fd);
+		return -me->last_err;
+	}
+
 	close(fd);
 	if ((size_t)len > *kind_size || !kind) {
 		me->last_err = ENOSPC;