diff --git a/init/msm b/init/msm
index a7029f2..25221be 100755
--- a/init/msm
+++ b/init/msm
@@ -1833,7 +1833,7 @@ server_property() {
 		read_server_conf "$1" "$2"
 
 		local target_varname=SERVER_$2[$1]
-		if [ -z ${!target_varname} ]; then
+		if [ -z "${!target_varname}" ]; then
 			# if its still empty use the default value
 			manager_property "DEFAULT_$2"
 			server_set_property "$1" "$2" "\$SETTINGS_DEFAULT_$2"