diff --git a/src/util/u_string.h b/src/util/u_string.h
index 374c00e0bcb..fb43ed0afc3 100644
--- a/src/util/u_string.h
+++ b/src/util/u_string.h
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ util_vasprintf(char **ret, const char *format, va_list ap)
       return -1;
 
    *ret = (char *) malloc(r + 1);
-   if (!ret)
+   if (!*ret)
       return -1;
 
    /* Print to buffer */