diff --git a/src/apps.js b/src/apps.js
index 271d4c2ea..e21d58e73 100644
--- a/src/apps.js
+++ b/src/apps.js
@@ -554,7 +554,7 @@ function getDuplicateErrorDetails(errorMessage, locations, portBindings) {
     if (match[2] === 'locations.subdomain') {
         for (let i = 0; i < locations.length; i++) {
             const { subdomain, domain, type } = locations[i];
-            if  (match[1] !== `${subdomain}-${domain}`) continue;
+            if  (match[1] !== (subdomain ? `${subdomain}-${domain}` : domain)) continue;
 
             return new BoxError(BoxError.ALREADY_EXISTS, `${type} location '${dns.fqdn(subdomain, domain)}' is in use`);
         }