diff --git a/src/lib/commands/bomb.c b/src/lib/commands/bomb.c
index 4a2cbf06..bc39efc3 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/bomb.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/bomb.c
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ bomb(void)
     getsect(tx, ty, &target);
     ip = 0;
     ap_to_target = strlen(flightpath);
-    if (*(flightpath + strlen(flightpath) - 1) == 'h')
+    if (flightpath[ap_to_target - 1] == 'h')
 	ap_to_target--;
     pr("range to target is %d\n", ap_to_target);
     /*
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/drop.c b/src/lib/commands/drop.c
index 2ade523e..a0aba4c6 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/drop.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/drop.c
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ drop(void)
     }
 
     ap_to_target = strlen(flightpath);
-    if (*(flightpath + strlen(flightpath) - 1) == 'h')
+    if (flightpath[ap_to_target - 1] == 'h')
 	ap_to_target--;
     pr("range to target is %d\n", ap_to_target);
     /*
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/fly.c b/src/lib/commands/fly.c
index 722f3c14..747984ac 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/fly.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/fly.c
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ fly(void)
     }
 
     ap_to_target = strlen(flightpath);
-    if (*(flightpath + strlen(flightpath) - 1) == 'h')
+    if (flightpath[ap_to_target - 1] == 'h')
 	ap_to_target--;
     pr("range to target is %d\n", ap_to_target);
     /*
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/para.c b/src/lib/commands/para.c
index 3ebbf3bb..f0bec69f 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/para.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/para.c
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ para(void)
     getsect(tx, ty, &target);
     pr("LZ is %s\n", xyas(tx, ty, player->cnum));
     ap_to_target = strlen(flightpath);
-    if (*(flightpath + strlen(flightpath) - 1) == 'h')
+    if (flightpath[ap_to_target - 1] == 'h')
 	ap_to_target--;
     pr("range to target is %d\n", ap_to_target);
     /*
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/reco.c b/src/lib/commands/reco.c
index 612b8c03..e1a5ba98 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/reco.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/reco.c
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ reco(void)
     if (pln_onewaymission(&target, &cno, &wantflags) < 0)
 	return RET_SYN;
     ap_to_target = strlen(flightpath);
-    if (*(flightpath + strlen(flightpath) - 1) == 'h')
+    if (flightpath[ap_to_target - 1] == 'h')
 	ap_to_target--;
     pr("range to target is %d\n", ap_to_target);
     /*