diff --git a/src/framework/chef.c b/src/framework/chef.c
index c56f19a..0e3fd1f 100644
--- a/src/framework/chef.c
+++ b/src/framework/chef.c
@@ -91,8 +91,10 @@ chef_set_note (Target_t *target, const char *note_zh, const char *note_en)
   if (!target)
     return;
 
-  char *msg = CHINESE ? xy_strdup(note_zh) : xy_strdup(note_en);
-  target->note = msg;
+  const char *msg = CHINESE ? note_zh : note_en;
+
+  if (msg)
+    target->note = xy_strdup(msg);
 }