diff --git a/src/learner/learner-inl.hpp b/src/learner/learner-inl.hpp
index b630edd4c..fc05c04c2 100644
--- a/src/learner/learner-inl.hpp
+++ b/src/learner/learner-inl.hpp
@@ -172,9 +172,11 @@ class BoostLearner : public rabit::ISerializable {
         int gap;
         utils::Check(fi.Read(&gap, sizeof(gap)) != 0, "BoostLearner: wrong model format");
         len = len >> 32UL;
-      }      
-      name_obj_.resize(len);
-      utils::Check(fi.Read(&name_obj_[0], len) != 0, "BoostLearner: wrong model format");
+      }
+      if (len != 0) {
+        name_obj_.resize(len);
+        utils::Check(fi.Read(&name_obj_[0], len) != 0, "BoostLearner: wrong model format");
+      }
     }
     utils::Check(fi.Read(&name_gbm_), "BoostLearner: wrong model format");
     // delete existing gbm if any