diff --git a/extensions/vertx/deployment/src/main/java/io/quarkus/vertx/core/deployment/VertxCoreProcessor.java b/extensions/vertx/deployment/src/main/java/io/quarkus/vertx/core/deployment/VertxCoreProcessor.java
index d376eb44e13ef..ab09839b74d15 100644
--- a/extensions/vertx/deployment/src/main/java/io/quarkus/vertx/core/deployment/VertxCoreProcessor.java
+++ b/extensions/vertx/deployment/src/main/java/io/quarkus/vertx/core/deployment/VertxCoreProcessor.java
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ private Filter createDebuggerFilter() {
                         debugPort = Integer.parseInt(m.group(2));
                         String host = m.group(1);
                         if (host.equals("*")) {
-                            host.equals("localhost");
+                            host = "localhost";
                         }
                         bindAddress = InetAddress.getByName(host);
                     }