diff --git a/oc2/occurlfunctions.c b/oc2/occurlfunctions.c
index 08a6d5d7b..10ebdff62 100644
--- a/oc2/occurlfunctions.c
+++ b/oc2/occurlfunctions.c
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ oc_set_curl_options(OCstate* state)
         stat = ocset_curlopt(state,ocflag->flag,cvt(triple->value,ocflag->type));
     }
  done:
-    if(hostport && *hostport != "") free(hostport);
+    if(hostport && strcmp(hostport,"") != 0) free(hostport);
     return stat;
 }