diff --git a/src/ac/conf.c b/src/ac/conf.c
index d49c5d2a..25f744d0 100644
--- a/src/ac/conf.c
+++ b/src/ac/conf.c
@@ -557,7 +557,7 @@ static int conf_read_dbg_level(cfg_t * cfg)
 }
 
 struct cw_Mod ** conf_mods; 
-char *conf_mods_dir = NULL;
+char *conf_mods_dir = "";
 
 /*
  * Read the module names from config file