diff --git a/src/cil.ml b/src/cil.ml
index 5b2d87db3..514296798 100755
--- a/src/cil.ml
+++ b/src/cil.ml
@@ -1425,9 +1425,8 @@ and dropAttributes (anl: string list) (al: attributes) =
 and filterAttributes (s: string) (al: attribute list) : attribute list =
   List.filter (fun (Attr(an, _)) -> an = s) al
 
-(* sm: *)
 let hasAttribute s al =
-  (filterAttributes s al <> [])
+  List.exists (fun (Attr(an, _)) -> an = s) al
 
 
 type attributeClass =