diff --git a/xpfe/components/bookmarks/src/nsBookmarksService.cpp b/xpfe/components/bookmarks/src/nsBookmarksService.cpp
index 03dd4073083..4e05657ab55 100644
--- a/xpfe/components/bookmarks/src/nsBookmarksService.cpp
+++ b/xpfe/components/bookmarks/src/nsBookmarksService.cpp
@@ -1749,7 +1749,7 @@ nsBookmarksService::Init()
 	{
 		char	*prefVal = nsnull;
 		if (NS_SUCCEEDED(rv = prefServ->CopyCharPref("custtoolbar.personal_toolbar_folder",
-			&prefVal)) && (prefVal))
+			&prefVal)) && (prefVal) && (*prefVal))
 		{
 			mPersonalToolbarName = prefVal;
 #ifdef	DEBUG