diff --git a/miniupnpd/options.c b/miniupnpd/options.c
index 489cc7b..a908928 100644
--- a/miniupnpd/options.c
+++ b/miniupnpd/options.c
@@ -140,8 +140,10 @@ readoptionsfile(const char * fname)
 		/* check for comments or empty lines */
 		if(name[0] == '#' || name[0] == '\0') continue;
 
+		len = strlen(name); /* length of the whole line excluding leading
+		                     * and ending white spaces */
 		/* check for UPnP permissions rule */
-		if(0 == memcmp(name, "allow", 5) || 0 == memcmp(name, "deny", 4))
+		if((len > 6) && (0 == memcmp(name, "allow", 5) || 0 == memcmp(name, "deny", 4)))
 		{
 			tmp = realloc(upnppermlist, sizeof(struct upnpperm) * (num_upnpperm+1));
 			if(tmp == NULL)
@@ -167,7 +169,7 @@ readoptionsfile(const char * fname)
 		}
 #ifdef PCP_SADSCP
 		/* check for DSCP values configuration */
-		if(0 == memcmp(name, "set_learn_dscp", sizeof("set_learn_dscp")-1) )
+		if((len > 15) && 0 == memcmp(name, "set_learn_dscp", sizeof("set_learn_dscp")-1) )
 		{
 			tmp = realloc(dscp_values_list, sizeof(struct dscp_values) * (num_dscp_values+1));
 			if(tmp == NULL)