diff --git a/src/bin/e_bg.c b/src/bin/e_bg.c
index 07af67d1d..f9256bda8 100644
--- a/src/bin/e_bg.c
+++ b/src/bin/e_bg.c
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ e_bg_zone_update(E_Zone *zone, E_Bg_Transition transition)
    if (transition == E_BG_TRANSITION_START) trans = e_config->transition_start;
    else if (transition == E_BG_TRANSITION_DESK) trans = e_config->transition_desk;
    else if (transition == E_BG_TRANSITION_CHANGE) trans = e_config->transition_change;
-   if ((!trans) || (strlen(trans) < 1)) transition = E_BG_TRANSITION_NONE;
+   if ((!trans) || (!trans[0])) transition = E_BG_TRANSITION_NONE;
 
    desk = e_desk_current_get(zone);
    if (desk)