diff --git a/base/HidlSupport.cpp b/base/HidlSupport.cpp
index 1544969..68155cd 100644
--- a/base/HidlSupport.cpp
+++ b/base/HidlSupport.cpp
@@ -195,6 +195,10 @@
 }
 
 hidl_string::hidl_string(const char *s) : hidl_string() {
+    if (s == nullptr) {
+        return;
+    }
+
     copyFrom(s, strlen(s));
 }
 
diff --git a/base/include/hidl/HidlSupport.h b/base/include/hidl/HidlSupport.h
index 80f95b6..d22c257 100644
--- a/base/include/hidl/HidlSupport.h
+++ b/base/include/hidl/HidlSupport.h
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@
 
     // copy constructor.
     hidl_string(const hidl_string &);
-    // copy from a C-style string.
+    // copy from a C-style string. nullptr will create an empty string
     hidl_string(const char *);
     // copy the first length characters from a C-style string.
     hidl_string(const char *, size_t length);