diff --git a/scripts/utils.sh b/scripts/utils.sh
index cd835cf..e52797c 100644
--- a/scripts/utils.sh
+++ b/scripts/utils.sh
@@ -377,7 +377,9 @@ function check_wanted_programs() {
 	local checkfile
 	for tuple in "$@"; do
 		program="${tuple%%=*}"
-		checkfile="${tuple##*=}"
+		checkfile=""
+		[[ "$tuple" == *=* ]] \
+			checkfile="${tuple##*=}"
 		if ! has_program "${program#"?"}" "$checkfile"; then
 			if [[ "$program" == "?"* ]]; then
 				missing_wanted+=("${program#"?"}")