diff --git a/src/auth.c b/src/auth.c
index 1069c5b76..42c08083e 100644
--- a/src/auth.c
+++ b/src/auth.c
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ check_user(struct userlist *ul, const char *user, const char *pass)
 	fprintf(stderr, ", crypt=%s\n", ep);
 #endif
 
-	if (!strcmp(ep, u->pass))
+	if (ep && strcmp(ep, u->pass) == 0)
 		return 1;
 	else
 		return 0;