--- xfce4-places-plugin-0.3.0/panel-plugin/view.c
+++ xfce4-places-plugin-0.3.0/panel-plugin/view.c
@@ -527,8 +527,8 @@
 places_view_add_menu_item(gpointer _pd, const gchar *label, const gchar *uri, const gchar *icon)
 {
     g_assert(_pd != NULL);
-    g_return_if_fail(label != NULL && label != "");
-    g_return_if_fail(uri != NULL && uri != "");
+    g_return_if_fail(label != NULL && strlen(label));
+    g_return_if_fail(uri != NULL && strlen(uri));
 
     PlacesData *pd = (PlacesData*) _pd;
     GtkWidget *item = gtk_image_menu_item_new_with_label(label);