diff --git a/top/top.c b/top/top.c
index 3d562280..80c2297f 100644
--- a/top/top.c
+++ b/top/top.c
@@ -3274,7 +3274,7 @@ static const char *config_file (FILE *fp, const char *name, float *delay) {
 #endif
       // ensure there's been no manual alteration of fieldscur
       for (n = 0 ; n < EU_MAXPFLGS; n++) {
-         if (strchr(w->rc.fieldscur, w->rc.fieldscur[n]) != strrchr(w->rc.fieldscur, w->rc.fieldscur[n]))
+         if (&w->rc.fieldscur[n] != strrchr(w->rc.fieldscur, w->rc.fieldscur[n]))
             return p;
       }
       // be tolerant of missing release 3.3.10 graph modes additions