diff --git a/src/bitcoin-cli.cpp b/src/bitcoin-cli.cpp
index 129deeec60..161d703282 100644
--- a/src/bitcoin-cli.cpp
+++ b/src/bitcoin-cli.cpp
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ public:
                     peer.is_outbound ? "out" : "in",
                     ConnectionTypeForNetinfo(peer.conn_type),
                     peer.network,
-                    peer.transport_protocol_type.starts_with('v') ? peer.transport_protocol_type[1] : ' ',
+                    (peer.transport_protocol_type.size() == 2 && peer.transport_protocol_type[0] == 'v') ? peer.transport_protocol_type[1] : ' ',
                     PingTimeToString(peer.min_ping),
                     PingTimeToString(peer.ping),
                     peer.last_send ? ToString(time_now - peer.last_send) : "",