diff --git a/src/output/output_ebml.h b/src/output/output_ebml.h
index 63a2c5dc..292b5b33 100644
--- a/src/output/output_ebml.h
+++ b/src/output/output_ebml.h
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ namespace Mist{
   protected:
     virtual bool inlineRestartCapable() const{return true;}
     bool isFileTarget(){
-      if (config->getString("target").substr(0, 9) != "mkv-exec:"){return true;}
+      if (config->getString("target").size() && config->getString("target").substr(0, 9) != "mkv-exec:"){return true;}
       return false;
     }