diff --git a/ankisyncd/sync_app.py b/ankisyncd/sync_app.py
index 3573307..8d41354 100644
--- a/ankisyncd/sync_app.py
+++ b/ankisyncd/sync_app.py
@@ -297,10 +297,8 @@ class SyncApp(object):
         self.collection_manager = getCollectionManager()
 
         # make sure the base_url has a trailing slash
-        if len(self.base_url) == 0:
-            self.base_url = '/'
-        elif self.base_url[-1] != '/':
-            self.base_url = base_url + '/'
+        if not self.base_url.endswith('/'):
+            self.base_url += '/'
 
     def generateHostKey(self, username):
         """Generates a new host key to be used by the given username to identify their session.