diff --git a/src/capwap/action.c b/src/capwap/action.c
index 7ca29f50..b1a6b14f 100644
--- a/src/capwap/action.c
+++ b/src/capwap/action.c
@@ -149,7 +149,20 @@ static int cw_action_out_cmp(const void *elem1, const void *elem2)
 	if (r != 0)
 		return r;
 
-	r = strcmp(e1->item_id, e2->item_id);
+	if (!e1->item_id && !e2->item_id){
+		r=0;
+	}
+	else{
+		if (!e1->item_id) {
+			r = strcmp("", e2->item_id);
+		}
+		else if (!e2->item_id){
+			r = strcmp(e1->item_id,"");
+		}
+		else{
+			r = strcmp(e1->item_id, e2->item_id);
+		}
+	}
 	if (r != 0)
 		return r;