diff --git a/utils/watchcat/Makefile b/utils/watchcat/Makefile
index b66a237ac50677..88fb0bfc7d44b8 100644
--- a/utils/watchcat/Makefile
+++ b/utils/watchcat/Makefile
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ include $(TOPDIR)/rules.mk
 
 PKG_NAME:=watchcat
 PKG_VERSION:=1
-PKG_RELEASE:=22
+PKG_RELEASE:=23
 
 PKG_MAINTAINER:=Roger D <rogerdammit@gmail.com>
 PKG_LICENSE:=GPL-2.0
diff --git a/utils/watchcat/files/watchcat.init b/utils/watchcat/files/watchcat.init
index 9bfc68d0e3bab3..1883b01154959d 100644
--- a/utils/watchcat/files/watchcat.init
+++ b/utils/watchcat/files/watchcat.init
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ config_watchcat() {
 	config_get forcedelay "$1" forcedelay "60"
 	config_get pingsize "$1" pingsize "standard"
 	config_get interface "$1" interface
-	config_get mmifacename "$1" mmifacename "null"
+	config_get mmifacename "$1" mmifacename
 	config_get_bool unlockbands "$1" unlockbands "0"
 	config_get addressfamily "$1" addressfamily "any"
 	config_get script "$1" script
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ config_watchcat() {
 				append_string "warn" "pingperiod cannot be a negative value." "; "
 			fi
 
-			if [ "$mmifacename" != "null" ] && [ "$period" -lt 30 ]; then
+			if [ -n "$mmifacename" ] && [ "$period" -lt 30 ]; then
 				append_string "error" "Check interval is less than 30s. For robust operation with ModemManager modem interfaces it is recommended to set the period to at least 30s."
 			fi
 		fi