diff --git a/src/fe-gtk/sexy-spell-entry.c b/src/fe-gtk/sexy-spell-entry.c
index 45bc132c..566abcf3 100644
--- a/src/fe-gtk/sexy-spell-entry.c
+++ b/src/fe-gtk/sexy-spell-entry.c
@@ -1410,7 +1410,7 @@ sexy_spell_entry_activate_language(SexySpellEntry *entry, const gchar *lang, GEr
 
 	g_return_val_if_fail(entry != NULL, FALSE);
 	g_return_val_if_fail(SEXY_IS_SPELL_ENTRY(entry), FALSE);
-	g_return_val_if_fail(lang != NULL && lang != '\0', FALSE);
+	g_return_val_if_fail(lang != NULL && *lang != '\0', FALSE);
 
 	if (!have_enchant)
 		return FALSE;