diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 55a9bc5c0c..e0822fbe25 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -1934,7 +1934,7 @@ int check_params(char *buf, int buf_size,
     int i;
 
     p = str;
-    for(;;) {
+    while (*p != '\0') {
         p = get_opt_name(buf, buf_size, p);
         if (*p != '=')
             return -1;