diff --git a/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/IPAddrs.pm b/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/IPAddrs.pm
index 3ab7eb922..ea5617bd9 100644
--- a/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/IPAddrs.pm
+++ b/Shorewall/Perl/Shorewall/IPAddrs.pm
@@ -530,7 +530,7 @@ sub valid_6address( $ ) {
 	return 0 unless valid_4address pop @address;
 	$max = 6;
 	$address = join ':', @address;
-	return 1 if @address eq ':';
+	return 1 if $address eq ':';
     } else {
 	$max = 8;
     }