diff --git a/pkg/collector/exchange/exchange.go b/pkg/collector/exchange/exchange.go
index 75841288e..ff8f17f97 100644
--- a/pkg/collector/exchange/exchange.go
+++ b/pkg/collector/exchange/exchange.go
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-kit/log/level"
 	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/perflib"
 	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/types"
+	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/utils"
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
 )
 
@@ -211,7 +212,7 @@ func (c *collector) Build() error {
 		os.Exit(0)
 	}
 
-	if *c.exchangeCollectorsEnabled == "" {
+	if utils.IsEmpty(c.exchangeCollectorsEnabled) {
 		for _, collectorName := range exchangeAllCollectorNames {
 			c.enabledCollectors = append(c.enabledCollectors, collectorName)
 		}
diff --git a/pkg/collector/iis/iis.go b/pkg/collector/iis/iis.go
index 3ae6697c2..a42abb7fe 100644
--- a/pkg/collector/iis/iis.go
+++ b/pkg/collector/iis/iis.go
@@ -9,12 +9,12 @@ import (
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 
-	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/perflib"
-	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/types"
-
 	"github.com/alecthomas/kingpin/v2"
 	"github.com/go-kit/log"
 	"github.com/go-kit/log/level"
+	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/perflib"
+	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/types"
+	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/utils"
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
 	"golang.org/x/sys/windows/registry"
 )
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ func (c *collector) GetPerfCounter() ([]string, error) {
 }
 
 func (c *collector) Build() error {
-	if *c.oldSiteExclude != "" {
+	if utils.HasValue(c.oldSiteExclude) {
 		if !c.siteExcludeSet {
 			_ = level.Warn(c.logger).Log("msg", "--collector.iis.site-blacklist is DEPRECATED and will be removed in a future release, use --collector.iis.site-exclude")
 			*c.siteExclude = *c.oldSiteExclude
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ func (c *collector) Build() error {
 			return errors.New("--collector.iis.site-blacklist and --collector.iis.site-exclude are mutually exclusive")
 		}
 	}
-	if *c.oldSiteInclude != "" {
+	if utils.HasValue(c.oldSiteInclude) {
 		if !c.siteIncludeSet {
 			_ = level.Warn(c.logger).Log("msg", "--collector.iis.site-whitelist is DEPRECATED and will be removed in a future release, use --collector.iis.site-include")
 			*c.siteInclude = *c.oldSiteInclude
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ func (c *collector) Build() error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if *c.oldAppExclude != "" {
+	if utils.HasValue(c.oldAppExclude) {
 		if !c.appExcludeSet {
 			_ = level.Warn(c.logger).Log("msg", "--collector.iis.app-blacklist is DEPRECATED and will be removed in a future release, use --collector.iis.app-exclude")
 			*c.appExclude = *c.oldAppExclude
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ func (c *collector) Build() error {
 			return errors.New("--collector.iis.app-blacklist and --collector.iis.app-exclude are mutually exclusive")
 		}
 	}
-	if *c.oldAppInclude != "" {
+	if utils.HasValue(c.oldAppInclude) {
 		if !c.appIncludeSet {
 			_ = level.Warn(c.logger).Log("msg", "--collector.iis.app-whitelist is DEPRECATED and will be removed in a future release, use --collector.iis.app-include")
 			*c.appInclude = *c.oldAppInclude
diff --git a/pkg/collector/logical_disk/logical_disk.go b/pkg/collector/logical_disk/logical_disk.go
index dea96811e..a13afea23 100644
--- a/pkg/collector/logical_disk/logical_disk.go
+++ b/pkg/collector/logical_disk/logical_disk.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-kit/log/level"
 	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/perflib"
 	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/types"
+	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/utils"
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
 )
 
@@ -125,7 +126,7 @@ func (c *collector) GetPerfCounter() ([]string, error) {
 }
 
 func (c *collector) Build() error {
-	if *c.volumeOldExclude != "" {
+	if utils.HasValue(c.volumeOldExclude) {
 		if !c.volumeExcludeSet {
 			_ = level.Warn(c.logger).Log("msg", "--collector.logical_disk.volume-blacklist is DEPRECATED and will be removed in a future release, use --collector.logical_disk.volume-exclude")
 			*c.volumeExclude = *c.volumeOldExclude
@@ -133,7 +134,7 @@ func (c *collector) Build() error {
 			return errors.New("--collector.logical_disk.volume-blacklist and --collector.logical_disk.volume-exclude are mutually exclusive")
 		}
 	}
-	if *c.volumeOldInclude != "" {
+	if utils.HasValue(c.volumeOldInclude) {
 		if !c.volumeIncludeSet {
 			_ = level.Warn(c.logger).Log("msg", "--collector.logical_disk.volume-whitelist is DEPRECATED and will be removed in a future release, use --collector.logical_disk.volume-include")
 			*c.volumeInclude = *c.volumeOldInclude
diff --git a/pkg/collector/msmq/msmq.go b/pkg/collector/msmq/msmq.go
index dacd46e71..a416a2edc 100644
--- a/pkg/collector/msmq/msmq.go
+++ b/pkg/collector/msmq/msmq.go
@@ -5,12 +5,12 @@ package msmq
 import (
 	"strings"
 
-	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/types"
-	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/wmi"
-
 	"github.com/alecthomas/kingpin/v2"
 	"github.com/go-kit/log"
 	"github.com/go-kit/log/level"
+	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/types"
+	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/utils"
+	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/wmi"
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
 )
 
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ func (c *collector) GetPerfCounter() ([]string, error) {
 }
 
 func (c *collector) Build() error {
-	if *c.queryWhereClause == "" {
+	if utils.IsEmpty(c.queryWhereClause) {
 		_ = level.Warn(c.logger).Log("msg", "No where-clause specified for msmq collector. This will generate a very large number of metrics!")
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/collector/net/net.go b/pkg/collector/net/net.go
index e0048c45d..71389c315 100644
--- a/pkg/collector/net/net.go
+++ b/pkg/collector/net/net.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-kit/log/level"
 	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/perflib"
 	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/types"
+	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/utils"
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
 )
 
@@ -125,7 +126,7 @@ func (c *collector) GetPerfCounter() ([]string, error) {
 }
 
 func (c *collector) Build() error {
-	if *c.nicOldExclude != "" {
+	if utils.HasValue(c.nicOldExclude) {
 		if !c.nicExcludeSet {
 			_ = level.Warn(c.logger).Log("msg", "--collector.net.nic-blacklist is DEPRECATED and will be removed in a future release, use --collector.net.nic-exclude")
 			*c.nicExclude = *c.nicOldExclude
@@ -133,7 +134,7 @@ func (c *collector) Build() error {
 			return errors.New("--collector.net.nic-blacklist and --collector.net.nic-exclude are mutually exclusive")
 		}
 	}
-	if *c.nicOldInclude != "" {
+	if utils.HasValue(c.nicOldInclude) {
 		if !c.nicIncludeSet {
 			_ = level.Warn(c.logger).Log("msg", "--collector.net.nic-whitelist is DEPRECATED and will be removed in a future release, use --collector.net.nic-include")
 			*c.nicInclude = *c.nicOldInclude
diff --git a/pkg/collector/process/process.go b/pkg/collector/process/process.go
index 30547302b..680f8d607 100644
--- a/pkg/collector/process/process.go
+++ b/pkg/collector/process/process.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-kit/log/level"
 	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/perflib"
 	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/types"
+	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/utils"
 	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/wmi"
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
 )
@@ -133,7 +134,7 @@ func (c *collector) GetPerfCounter() ([]string, error) {
 }
 
 func (c *collector) Build() error {
-	if *c.processOldExclude != "" {
+	if utils.HasValue(c.processOldExclude) {
 		if !c.processExcludeSet {
 			_ = level.Warn(c.logger).Log("msg", "--collector.process.blacklist is DEPRECATED and will be removed in a future release, use --collector.process.exclude")
 			*c.processExclude = *c.processOldExclude
@@ -141,7 +142,7 @@ func (c *collector) Build() error {
 			return errors.New("--collector.process.blacklist and --collector.process.exclude are mutually exclusive")
 		}
 	}
-	if *c.processOldInclude != "" {
+	if utils.HasValue(c.processOldInclude) {
 		if !c.processIncludeSet {
 			_ = level.Warn(c.logger).Log("msg", "--collector.process.whitelist is DEPRECATED and will be removed in a future release, use --collector.process.include")
 			*c.processInclude = *c.processOldInclude
@@ -150,7 +151,7 @@ func (c *collector) Build() error {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if *c.processInclude == ".*" && *c.processExclude == "" {
+	if c.processInclude != nil && *c.processInclude == ".*" && utils.IsEmpty(c.processExclude) {
 		_ = level.Warn(c.logger).Log("msg", "No filters specified for process collector. This will generate a very large number of metrics!")
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/collector/scheduled_task/scheduled_task.go b/pkg/collector/scheduled_task/scheduled_task.go
index 0bed452cc..4641e196f 100644
--- a/pkg/collector/scheduled_task/scheduled_task.go
+++ b/pkg/collector/scheduled_task/scheduled_task.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-ole/go-ole"
 	"github.com/go-ole/go-ole/oleutil"
 	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/types"
+	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/utils"
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
 )
 
@@ -141,7 +142,7 @@ func (c *collector) GetPerfCounter() ([]string, error) {
 }
 
 func (c *collector) Build() error {
-	if *c.taskOldExclude != "" {
+	if utils.HasValue(c.taskOldExclude) {
 		if !c.taskExcludeSet {
 			_ = level.Warn(c.logger).Log("msg", "--collector.scheduled_task.blacklist is DEPRECATED and will be removed in a future release, use --collector.scheduled_task.exclude")
 			*c.taskExclude = *c.taskOldExclude
@@ -149,7 +150,7 @@ func (c *collector) Build() error {
 			return errors.New("--collector.scheduled_task.blacklist and --collector.scheduled_task.exclude are mutually exclusive")
 		}
 	}
-	if *c.taskOldInclude != "" {
+	if utils.HasValue(c.taskOldInclude) {
 		if !c.taskIncludeSet {
 			_ = level.Warn(c.logger).Log("msg", "--collector.scheduled_task.whitelist is DEPRECATED and will be removed in a future release, use --collector.scheduled_task.include")
 			*c.taskInclude = *c.taskOldInclude
diff --git a/pkg/collector/service/service.go b/pkg/collector/service/service.go
index 4067bb830..aa4ec8293 100644
--- a/pkg/collector/service/service.go
+++ b/pkg/collector/service/service.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-kit/log"
 	"github.com/go-kit/log/level"
 	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/types"
+	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/utils"
 	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/wmi"
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
 	"golang.org/x/sys/windows"
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ func (c *collector) GetPerfCounter() ([]string, error) {
 }
 
 func (c *collector) Build() error {
-	if *c.serviceWhereClause == "" {
+	if utils.IsEmpty(c.serviceWhereClause) {
 		_ = level.Warn(c.logger).Log("msg", "No where-clause specified for service collector. This will generate a very large number of metrics!")
 	}
 	if *c.useAPI {
diff --git a/pkg/collector/smtp/smtp.go b/pkg/collector/smtp/smtp.go
index d4446566e..653faef09 100644
--- a/pkg/collector/smtp/smtp.go
+++ b/pkg/collector/smtp/smtp.go
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-kit/log/level"
 	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/perflib"
 	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/types"
+	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/utils"
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
 )
 
@@ -152,7 +153,7 @@ func (c *collector) GetPerfCounter() ([]string, error) {
 func (c *collector) Build() error {
 	_ = level.Info(c.logger).Log("msg", "smtp collector is in an experimental state! Metrics for this collector have not been tested.")
 
-	if *c.serverOldExclude != "" {
+	if utils.HasValue(c.serverOldExclude) {
 		if !c.serverExcludeSet {
 			_ = level.Warn(c.logger).Log("msg", "--collector.smtp.server-blacklist is DEPRECATED and will be removed in a future release, use --collector.smtp.server-exclude")
 			*c.serverExclude = *c.serverOldExclude
@@ -160,7 +161,7 @@ func (c *collector) Build() error {
 			return errors.New("--collector.smtp.server-blacklist and --collector.smtp.server-exclude are mutually exclusive")
 		}
 	}
-	if *c.serverOldInclude != "" {
+	if utils.HasValue(c.serverOldInclude) {
 		if !c.serverIncludeSet {
 			_ = level.Warn(c.logger).Log("msg", "--collector.smtp.server-whitelist is DEPRECATED and will be removed in a future release, use --collector.smtp.server-include")
 			*c.serverInclude = *c.serverOldInclude
diff --git a/pkg/collector/textfile/textfile.go b/pkg/collector/textfile/textfile.go
index 9be16e0a3..498ed73f1 100644
--- a/pkg/collector/textfile/textfile.go
+++ b/pkg/collector/textfile/textfile.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/go-kit/log"
 	"github.com/go-kit/log/level"
 	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/types"
+	"github.com/prometheus-community/windows_exporter/pkg/utils"
 	"github.com/prometheus/client_golang/prometheus"
 	dto "github.com/prometheus/client_model/go"
 	"github.com/prometheus/common/expfmt"
@@ -103,7 +104,7 @@ func (c *collector) GetPerfCounter() ([]string, error) {
 
 func (c *collector) Build() error {
 	c.directories = ""
-	if *c.textFileDirectory != "" || *c.textFileDirectories != "" {
+	if utils.HasValue(c.textFileDirectory) || utils.HasValue(c.textFileDirectories) {
 		c.directories = *c.textFileDirectory + "," + *c.textFileDirectories
 		c.directories = strings.Trim(c.directories, ",")
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/utils/utils.go b/pkg/utils/utils.go
index 68ddaa655..089477dca 100644
--- a/pkg/utils/utils.go
+++ b/pkg/utils/utils.go
@@ -12,3 +12,11 @@ func BoolToFloat(b bool) float64 {
 	}
 	return 0.0
 }
+
+func HasValue(v *string) bool {
+	return !IsEmpty(v)
+}
+
+func IsEmpty(v *string) bool {
+	return v == nil || *v == ""
+}