diff --git a/src/client/sound/sound.c b/src/client/sound/sound.c
index 0cbf17e5..36d384d6 100644
--- a/src/client/sound/sound.c
+++ b/src/client/sound/sound.c
@@ -669,7 +669,7 @@ S_StartSound(vec3_t origin, int entnum, int entchannel, sfx_t *sfx,
 		ps->fixed_origin = false;
 	}
 
-	if (sfx->name)
+	if (sfx->name[0])
 	{
 		// with !fixed we have all sounds related directly to player,
 		// e.g. players fire, pain, menu