diff --git a/agents/check_mk_agent.linux b/agents/check_mk_agent.linux
index 810cd2817e1..fdc77abaeb4 100755
--- a/agents/check_mk_agent.linux
+++ b/agents/check_mk_agent.linux
@@ -857,7 +857,7 @@ section_bonding_interfaces() {
     (
         cd /proc/net/bonding 2>/dev/null || return
         echo '<<<lnx_bonding:sep(58)>>>'
-        head -v -n 1000 ./*
+        [ -n "$(ls)" ] && head -v -n 1000 ./*
     )
 }
 
diff --git a/agents/check_mk_agent.openwrt b/agents/check_mk_agent.openwrt
index a40c05d7137..f02d506bdf5 100755
--- a/agents/check_mk_agent.openwrt
+++ b/agents/check_mk_agent.openwrt
@@ -581,7 +581,7 @@ section_bonding_interfaces() {
     (
         cd /proc/net/bonding 2>/dev/null || return
         echo '<<<lnx_bonding:sep(58)>>>'
-        head -v -n 1000 ./*
+        [ -n "$(ls)" ] && head -v -n 1000 ./*
     )
 }