diff --git a/libraries/ArduinoOTA/ArduinoOTA.cpp b/libraries/ArduinoOTA/ArduinoOTA.cpp
index 995c0f4f4..744c208cc 100644
--- a/libraries/ArduinoOTA/ArduinoOTA.cpp
+++ b/libraries/ArduinoOTA/ArduinoOTA.cpp
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ void ArduinoOTAClass::handle() {
 #endif
 
     _udp_ota.beginPacket(_ota_ip, _udp_ota.remotePort());
-    if (_password){
+    if (_password.length()){
       MD5Builder nonce_md5;
       nonce_md5.begin();
       nonce_md5.add(String(micros()));