diff --git a/src/misc1.c b/src/misc1.c
index 17779ba..9f86726 100644
--- a/src/misc1.c
+++ b/src/misc1.c
@@ -4028,15 +4028,12 @@
 		 */
 #  if defined(HAVE_GETPWNAM) && defined(HAVE_PWD_H)
 		{
-		    struct passwd *pw;
-
 		    /* Note: memory allocated by getpwnam() is never freed.
 		     * Calling endpwent() apparently doesn't help. */
-		    pw = getpwnam((char *)dst + 1);
-		    if (pw != NULL)
-			var = (char_u *)pw->pw_dir;
-		    else
-			var = NULL;
+		    struct passwd *pw = (*dst == NUL)
+					? NULL : getpwnam((char *)dst + 1);
+
+		    var = (pw == NULL) ? NULL : (char_u *)pw->pw_dir;
 		}
 		if (var == NULL)
 #  endif
@@ -9652,7 +9649,7 @@
 # endif
 	    if (match_file_list(p_wig, (*files)[i], ffname))
 	    {
-		/* remove this matching files from the list */
+		/* remove this matching file from the list */
 		vim_free((*files)[i]);
 		for (j = i; j + 1 < *num_files; ++j)
 		    (*files)[j] = (*files)[j + 1];
@@ -10736,14 +10733,15 @@
 static int has_special_wildchar(char_u *p);
 
 /*
- * Return TRUE if "p" contains a special wildcard character.
- * Allowing for escaping.
+ * Return TRUE if "p" contains a special wildcard character, one that Vim
+ * cannot expand, requires using a shell.
  */
     static int
 has_special_wildchar(char_u *p)
 {
     for ( ; *p; mb_ptr_adv(p))
     {
+	/* Allow for escaping. */
 	if (*p == '\\' && p[1] != NUL)
 	    ++p;
 	else if (vim_strchr((char_u *)SPECIAL_WILDCHAR, *p) != NULL)