diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 85bcc84..78ec1b2 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -1097,7 +1097,7 @@ DriveInfo *drive_init(QemuOpts *opts, void *opaque,
     case IF_COUNT:
         abort();
     }
-    if (!file) {
+    if (!file || !*file) {
         *fatal_error = 0;
         return NULL;
     }