diff --git a/utils/zenutils/source/shared/updater.cpp b/utils/zenutils/source/shared/updater.cpp
index 6f200e3da4..8db72d0c4c 100644
--- a/utils/zenutils/source/shared/updater.cpp
+++ b/utils/zenutils/source/shared/updater.cpp
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ const char* zen::find_firmware_key(const byte* buffer, size_t len)
             }
         }
     }
-    return NULL;
+    return "";
 }
 
 dword zen::find_firmware_offset(byte* buffer, size_t len)