diff --git a/characters.lisp b/characters.lisp
index 11195b3..5fa1aa5 100644
--- a/characters.lisp
+++ b/characters.lisp
@@ -95,7 +95,9 @@
   (stringp x))
 
 (defun rod= (x y)
-  (string= x y))
+  (if (zerop (length x))
+      (zerop (length y))
+      (and (plusp (length y)) (string= x y))))
 
 (defun rod-equal (x y)
   (string-equal x y))
diff --git a/utf8.lisp b/utf8.lisp
index 938b67e..48e4183 100644
--- a/utf8.lisp
+++ b/utf8.lisp
@@ -10,14 +10,6 @@
 (deftype rod () '(vector rune))
 (deftype simple-rod () '(simple-array rune))
 
-#+(or)
-(definline rune (rod index)
-  (char rod index))
-
-#+(or)
-(defun (setf rune) (newval rod index)
-  (setf (char rod index) newval))
-
 (defun rod= (r s)
   (string= r s))