diff --git a/modcc/module.cpp b/modcc/module.cpp
index df34279f5953ab90f6ef6c526563c7e984d1e2c5..7a4aaaee8a22bf441ed278f6aa88f8b256289b46 100644
--- a/modcc/module.cpp
+++ b/modcc/module.cpp
@@ -683,7 +683,7 @@ void Module::add_variables_to_symbols() {
 
     // then GLOBAL variables
     for(auto const& var : neuron_block_.globals) {
-        if(!symbols_[var.spelling]) {
+        if(!symbols_.count(var.spelling)) {
             error( yellow(var.spelling) +
                    " is declared as GLOBAL, but has not been declared in the" +
                    " ASSIGNED block",
@@ -703,7 +703,7 @@ void Module::add_variables_to_symbols() {
 
     // then RANGE variables
     for(auto const& var : neuron_block_.ranges) {
-        if(!symbols_[var.spelling]) {
+        if(!symbols_.count(var.spelling)) {
             error( yellow(var.spelling) +
                    " is declared as RANGE, but has not been declared in the" +
                    " ASSIGNED or PARAMETER block",