diff --git a/swaybar/input.c b/swaybar/input.c
index 8a83f38f8..8b83eab49 100644
--- a/swaybar/input.c
+++ b/swaybar/input.c
@@ -70,10 +70,11 @@ void update_cursor(struct swaybar_seat *seat) {
 	const char *cursor_theme = getenv("XCURSOR_THEME");
 	unsigned cursor_size = 24;
 	const char *env_cursor_size = getenv("XCURSOR_SIZE");
-	if (env_cursor_size) {
+	if (env_cursor_size && strlen(env_cursor_size) > 0) {
+		errno = 0;
 		char *end;
 		unsigned size = strtoul(env_cursor_size, &end, 10);
-		if (!*end) {
+		if (!*end && errno == 0) {
 			cursor_size = size;
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/swaynag/swaynag.c b/swaynag/swaynag.c
index 87199a741..caa10ccd6 100644
--- a/swaynag/swaynag.c
+++ b/swaynag/swaynag.c
@@ -132,10 +132,11 @@ static void update_cursor(struct swaynag *swaynag) {
 	const char *cursor_theme = getenv("XCURSOR_THEME");
 	unsigned cursor_size = 24;
 	const char *env_cursor_size = getenv("XCURSOR_SIZE");
-	if (env_cursor_size) {
+	if (env_cursor_size && strlen(env_cursor_size) > 0) {
+		errno = 0;
 		char *end;
 		unsigned size = strtoul(env_cursor_size, &end, 10);
-		if (!*end) {
+		if (!*end && errno == 0) {
 			cursor_size = size;
 		}
 	}