diff --git a/src/tools/dumpscan/pathname.c b/src/tools/dumpscan/pathname.c
index db24588700..b4d4e5cf31 100644
--- a/src/tools/dumpscan/pathname.c
+++ b/src/tools/dumpscan/pathname.c
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ Path_Build(XFILE * X, path_hashinfo * phi, afs_uint32 vnode, char **his_path,
 
     if (vnode == 1) {
 	*his_path = strdup("/");
-	if (!his_path) {
+	if (!*his_path) {
 	    if (phi->p->cb_error)
 		(phi->p->cb_error) (ENOMEM, 1, phi->p->err_refcon,
 				    "No memory for pathname of vnode 1");