diff --git a/src/stdlib/SDL_getenv.c b/src/stdlib/SDL_getenv.c
index 8c7fc351e..305307feb 100644
--- a/src/stdlib/SDL_getenv.c
+++ b/src/stdlib/SDL_getenv.c
@@ -60,9 +60,7 @@ SDL_setenv(const char *name, const char *value, int overwrite)
     }
     
     if (!overwrite) {
-        char ch = 0;
-        const size_t len = GetEnvironmentVariableA(name, &ch, sizeof (ch));
-        if (len > 0) {
+        if (GetEnvironmentVariableA(name, NULL, 0) > 0) {
             return 0;  /* asked not to overwrite existing value. */
         }
     }