cout << "done (" << diff_in_second(&start_time, &end_time) << "s)." << endl;
   }
 
-  if(strcmp(global.trajectory_filename, "")) {
+  if(global.trajectory_filename[0]) {
     ofstream out_traj(global.trajectory_filename);
     tracker->write_trajectories(&out_traj);
     if(global.verbose) { cout << "Wrote " << global.trajectory_filename << "." << endl; }
     tracker->write_trajectories(&cout);
   }
 
-  if(strcmp(global.graph_filename, "") != 0) {
+  if(global.graph_filename[0]) {
     ofstream out_dot(global.graph_filename);
     tracker->print_graph_dot(&out_dot);
     if(global.verbose) { cout << "Wrote " << global.graph_filename << "." << endl; }