diff --git a/include/common/buffer.h b/include/common/buffer.h
index 4e55285e7..221839020 100644
--- a/include/common/buffer.h
+++ b/include/common/buffer.h
@@ -176,6 +176,9 @@ static inline int buffer_empty(const struct buffer *buf)
  */
 static inline int buffer_full(const struct buffer *b, unsigned int reserve)
 {
+	if (b == &buf_empty)
+		return 0;
+
 	return (b->i + reserve >= b->size);
 }
 
@@ -282,7 +285,10 @@ static inline int buffer_work_area(const struct buffer *buf, const char *end)
 /* Return 1 if the buffer has less than 1/4 of its capacity free, otherwise 0 */
 static inline int buffer_almost_full(const struct buffer *buf)
 {
-	if (buffer_total_space(buf) < buf->size / 4)
+	if (buf == &buf_empty)
+		return 0;
+
+	if (!buf->size || buffer_total_space(buf) < buf->size / 4)
 		return 1;
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/include/proto/channel.h b/include/proto/channel.h
index 1c175e904..1cee05a1d 100644
--- a/include/proto/channel.h
+++ b/include/proto/channel.h
@@ -129,6 +129,9 @@ static inline int channel_full(const struct channel *chn)
 {
 	int rem = chn->buf->size;
 
+	if (chn->buf == &buf_empty)
+		return 0;
+
 	rem -= chn->buf->o;
 	rem -= chn->buf->i;
 	if (!rem)