diff --git a/zebra/zebra_mpls.c b/zebra/zebra_mpls.c
index e08ff08cf6..93844ee2a6 100644
--- a/zebra/zebra_mpls.c
+++ b/zebra/zebra_mpls.c
@@ -1774,7 +1774,7 @@ mpls_str2label (const char *label_str, u_int8_t *num_labels,
 
   if (!rc)
     {
-      *num_labels = i + 1;
+      *num_labels = i;
       memcpy (labels, pl, *num_labels * sizeof (mpls_label_t));
     }