diff --git a/screen b/screen
index 38a958f6..f14bfb46 100755
--- a/screen
+++ b/screen
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ fi
 [ -r "$SCREENRC" ] || touch "$SCREENRC"
 
 # Now let's execute screen!
-if [ -z "$@" ]; then
+if [ "$#" = "0" ]; then
 	exec /usr/bin/screen.real -c "$HOME/.screen-profiles/profile" -t shell /usr/bin/motd+shell
 else
 	exec /usr/bin/screen.real -c "$HOME/.screen-profiles/profile" "$@"