diff --git a/coreutils/sleep.c b/coreutils/sleep.c
index 667db558d..a0cee5a4a 100644
--- a/coreutils/sleep.c
+++ b/coreutils/sleep.c
@@ -74,7 +74,8 @@ int sleep_main(int argc UNUSED_PARAM, char **argv)
 	++argv;
 	if (!*argv) {
 		/* Without this, bare "sleep" in ash shows _ash_ --help */
-		if (ENABLE_ASH_SLEEP && applet_name[0] != 's') {
+		/* (ash can be the "sh" applet as well, so check 2nd char) */
+		if (ENABLE_ASH_SLEEP && applet_name[1] != 'l') {
 			bb_simple_error_msg("sleep: missing operand");
 			return EXIT_FAILURE;
 		}