diff --git a/hecl/lib/CVar.cpp b/hecl/lib/CVar.cpp
index 37575eb6a..6380bacae 100644
--- a/hecl/lib/CVar.cpp
+++ b/hecl/lib/CVar.cpp
@@ -80,8 +80,7 @@ CVar::CVar(std::string_view name, uint32_t value, std::string_view help, CVar::E
 }
 
 std::string CVar::help() const {
-  return std::string(m_help + (m_defaultValue != std::string() ? "\ndefault: " + m_defaultValue : "") +
-                     (isReadOnly() ? " [ReadOnly]" : ""));
+  return m_help + (m_defaultValue.empty() ? "" : "\ndefault: " + m_defaultValue) + (isReadOnly() ? " [ReadOnly]" : "");
 }
 
 atVec2f CVar::toVec2f(bool* isValid) const {