diff --git a/src/util.cc b/src/util.cc
index 483f4a6250..ef5f103305 100644
--- a/src/util.cc
+++ b/src/util.cc
@@ -647,6 +647,8 @@ int ParseCPUFromCGroup() {
       readCount(cpu->second + "/cpu.cfs_period_us");
   if (!period.second)
     return -1;
+  if (period.first == 0)
+    return -1;
   return quota.first / period.first;
 }
 #endif