diff --git a/crpptbx/gdat_plot.m b/crpptbx/gdat_plot.m
index a044a5747da9925841236dff848ba15883ec0014..58546d0cf6aa54bf05ad007ffac91e5a75d8a9a2 100644
--- a/crpptbx/gdat_plot.m
+++ b/crpptbx/gdat_plot.m
@@ -50,7 +50,8 @@ if all(isfield(gdat_data,{'data','t'})) && ~isempty(gdat_data.data) && ~isempty(
     fighandle = figure(abs(doplot));
     hold all
   end
-  if isfield(gdat_data,'gdat_request') && strcmp(gdat_data.gdat_request,'eqdsk')
+  if isfield(gdat_data,'gdat_request') && ischar(gdat_data.gdat_request) ...
+        && strcmp(gdat_data.gdat_request,'eqdsk')
     % special case, plot contours of first equil
     endstr = '';
     if iscell(gdat_data.eqdsk); endstr = '{1}'; end