diff --git a/src/frontend/device.c b/src/frontend/device.c
index 608fcbbea..77c5e0a1c 100644
--- a/src/frontend/device.c
+++ b/src/frontend/device.c
@@ -1311,7 +1311,7 @@ com_alter_common(wordlist *wl, int do_model)
 
     /* If we want alter the geometry of a MOS device
        we have to ensure that we are in the valid model bin. */
-    if ((dev[0] == 'm') && ((param[0] == 'w') || (param[0] == 'l')))
+    if ((dev[0] == 'm') && (eq(param, "w") || eq(param, "l")))
         if_set_binned_model(ft_curckt->ci_ckt, dev, param, dv);
 
     if_setparam(ft_curckt->ci_ckt, &dev, param, dv, do_model);