diff --git a/tests/qtest/test-hmp.c b/tests/qtest/test-hmp.c
index f8b22abe4c..b4a920df89 100644
--- a/tests/qtest/test-hmp.c
+++ b/tests/qtest/test-hmp.c
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
     char *v_env = getenv("V");
 
-    if (v_env && *v_env >= '2') {
+    if (v_env && atoi(v_env) >= 2) {
         verbose = true;
     }