diff --git a/lib/cpuset.c b/lib/cpuset.c
index cf22aa778..85927553e 100644
--- a/lib/cpuset.c
+++ b/lib/cpuset.c
@@ -292,6 +292,8 @@ int cpulist_parse(const char *str, cpu_set_t *set, size_t setsize, int fail)
 			if (c1 != NULL && (c2 == NULL || c1 < c2)) {
 				if (sscanf(c1, "%u", &s) < 1)
 					return 1;
+				if (s == 0)
+					return 1;
 			}
 		}