diff --git a/gtk/a11y/gtkatspiroot.c b/gtk/a11y/gtkatspiroot.c
index b39d0938d4..78c4d7c0de 100644
--- a/gtk/a11y/gtkatspiroot.c
+++ b/gtk/a11y/gtkatspiroot.c
@@ -690,7 +690,8 @@ gtk_at_spi_root_constructed (GObject *gobject)
       /* No need to validate the path */
       self->base_path = g_strconcat (app_path, "/a11y", NULL);
     }
-  else
+
+  if (self->base_path == NULL)
     {
       const char *program_name = g_get_prgname ();