diff --git a/briar-core/src/net/sf/briar/util/StringUtils.java b/briar-core/src/net/sf/briar/util/StringUtils.java
index e6017068b..0b3e674fd 100644
--- a/briar-core/src/net/sf/briar/util/StringUtils.java
+++ b/briar-core/src/net/sf/briar/util/StringUtils.java
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ public class StringUtils {
 	};
 
 	public static boolean isNullOrEmpty(String s) {
-		return s == null || s.isEmpty();
+		return s == null || s.equals("");
 	}
 
 	/**