diff --git a/sound/soc/soc-core.c b/sound/soc/soc-core.c
index d75043ed7fc0..b194be09e74d 100644
--- a/sound/soc/soc-core.c
+++ b/sound/soc/soc-core.c
@@ -1929,8 +1929,9 @@ static void snd_soc_instantiate_card(struct snd_soc_card *card)
 		 "%s", card->name);
 	snprintf(card->snd_card->longname, sizeof(card->snd_card->longname),
 		 "%s", card->long_name ? card->long_name : card->name);
-	snprintf(card->snd_card->driver, sizeof(card->snd_card->driver),
-		 "%s", card->driver_name ? card->driver_name : card->name);
+	if (card->driver_name)
+		strlcpy(card->snd_card->driver, card->driver_name,
+			sizeof(card->snd_card->driver));
 
 	if (card->late_probe) {
 		ret = card->late_probe(card);