diff --git a/code/ryzom/client/src/client_cfg.cpp b/code/ryzom/client/src/client_cfg.cpp
index d9033930d..3612c8b33 100644
--- a/code/ryzom/client/src/client_cfg.cpp
+++ b/code/ryzom/client/src/client_cfg.cpp
@@ -1108,7 +1108,7 @@ void CClientConfig::setValues()
 		ClientCfg.CurlMaxConnections = 2;
 
 	READ_STRING_FV(CurlCABundle);
-	if (ClientCfg.CurlCABundle[0] == '%') // Path is relative to client_default.cfg path (used by ryzom patch)
+	if (!ClientCfg.CurlCABundle.empty() && ClientCfg.CurlCABundle[0] == '%') // Path is relative to client_default.cfg path (used by ryzom patch)
 	{
 		string defaultConfigFileName;
 		if (ClientCfg.getDefaultConfigLocation(defaultConfigFileName))