diff --git a/kernel/sysctl_binary.c b/kernel/sysctl_binary.c
index b25115e8c7f3..ebf72358e86a 100644
--- a/kernel/sysctl_binary.c
+++ b/kernel/sysctl_binary.c
@@ -1171,9 +1171,10 @@ static ssize_t bin_dn_node_address(struct file *file,
 
 		/* Convert the decnet address to binary */
 		result = -EIO;
-		nodep = strchr(buf, '.') + 1;
+		nodep = strchr(buf, '.');
 		if (!nodep)
 			goto out;
+		++nodep;
 
 		area = simple_strtoul(buf, NULL, 10);
 		node = simple_strtoul(nodep, NULL, 10);