diff --git a/crypto/conf/conf.c b/crypto/conf/conf.c
index 898a9ba2..1630c933 100644
--- a/crypto/conf/conf.c
+++ b/crypto/conf/conf.c
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ static int def_load_bio(CONF *conf, BIO *in, long *out_error_line) {
       end = eat_alpha_numeric(conf, ss);
       p = eat_ws(conf, end);
       if (*p != ']') {
-        if (*p != '\0') {
+        if (*p != '\0' && ss != p) {
           ss = p;
           goto again;
         }