diff --git a/glib/gstring.c b/glib/gstring.c
index 9b25fb614..946206fb3 100644
--- a/glib/gstring.c
+++ b/glib/gstring.c
@@ -130,12 +130,11 @@ guint
 g_str_hash (gconstpointer v)
 {
   /* 31 bit hash function */
-  const signed char *p = v;
-  guint32 h = *p;
+  const signed char *p;
+  guint32 h = 0;
 
-  if (h)
-    for (p += 1; *p != '\0'; p++)
-      h = (h << 5) - h + *p;
+  for (p = v; *p != '\0'; p++)
+    h = (h << 5) - h + *p;
 
   return h;
 }