diff --git a/libs/esl/testserver.c b/libs/esl/testserver.c
index 1477d8d71e..f8eb78d1f3 100644
--- a/libs/esl/testserver.c
+++ b/libs/esl/testserver.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ static void mycallback(esl_socket_t server_sock, esl_socket_t client_sock, struc
 			if (type && !strcasecmp(type, "text/disconnect-notice")) {
 				const char *dispo = esl_event_get_header(handle.last_event, "content-disposition");
 				esl_log(ESL_LOG_INFO, "Got a disconnection notice dispostion: [%s]\n", dispo ? dispo : "");
-				if (!strcmp(dispo, "linger")) {
+				if (dispo && !strcmp(dispo, "linger")) {
 					done = 1;
 					esl_log(ESL_LOG_INFO, "Waiting 5 seconds for any remaining events.\n");
 					exp = time(NULL) + 5;