diff --git a/src/core/ngx_hash.c b/src/core/ngx_hash.c
index 1a5d0be2e..151e64304 100644
--- a/src/core/ngx_hash.c
+++ b/src/core/ngx_hash.c
@@ -743,6 +743,10 @@ ngx_hash_add_key(ngx_hash_keys_arrays_t *ha, ngx_str_t *key, void *value,
             if (key->data[i] == '.' && key->data[i + 1] == '.') {
                 return NGX_DECLINED;
             }
+
+            if (key->data[i] == '\0') {
+                return NGX_DECLINED;
+            }
         }
 
         if (key->len > 1 && key->data[0] == '.') {