diff --git a/Shorewall/lib.config b/Shorewall/lib.config
index decc6a8aa..921f986fd 100644
--- a/Shorewall/lib.config
+++ b/Shorewall/lib.config
@@ -612,7 +612,7 @@ validate_hosts_file() {
 		case $host in
 		    *.*.*)
 			;;
-		    *+)
+		    +*)
 			eval ${z}_is_complex=Yes
 			;;
 		    *)