diff --git a/nfq2/helpers.c b/nfq2/helpers.c
index a7e5a59..5da62da 100644
--- a/nfq2/helpers.c
+++ b/nfq2/helpers.c
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ bool file_size(const char *filename, off_t *size)
 {
 	struct stat st;
 	if (stat(filename, &st) == -1) return false;
-	*size = st.st_size;
+	if (size) *size = st.st_size;
 	return true;
 }
 time_t file_mod_time(const char *filename)
diff --git a/nfq2/hostlist.c b/nfq2/hostlist.c
index 75701a2..de95e31 100644
--- a/nfq2/hostlist.c
+++ b/nfq2/hostlist.c
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ static struct hostlist_file *RegisterHostlist_(struct hostlist_files_head *hostl
 }
 struct hostlist_file *RegisterHostlist(struct desync_profile *dp, bool bExclude, const char *filename)
 {
-	if (filename && !file_mod_time(filename))
+	if (filename && !file_size(filename,NULL))
 	{
 		DLOG_ERR("cannot access hostlist file '%s'\n",filename);
 		return NULL;
diff --git a/nfq2/ipset.c b/nfq2/ipset.c
index 732513a..347bc9f 100644
--- a/nfq2/ipset.c
+++ b/nfq2/ipset.c
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@ static struct ipset_file *RegisterIpset_(struct ipset_files_head *ipsets, struct
 }
 struct ipset_file *RegisterIpset(struct desync_profile *dp, bool bExclude, const char *filename)
 {
-	if (filename && !file_mod_time(filename))
+	if (filename && !file_size(filename,NULL))
 	{
 		DLOG_ERR("cannot access ipset file '%s'\n",filename);
 		return NULL;