diff --git a/src/etc/inc/util.inc b/src/etc/inc/util.inc
index ad365f1edc..74c5dc9edd 100644
--- a/src/etc/inc/util.inc
+++ b/src/etc/inc/util.inc
@@ -916,7 +916,7 @@ function url_safe($format, $args = [])
 
     foreach ($args as $id => $arg) {
         /* arguments could be empty, so force default */
-        $args[$id] = !empty($arg) ? urlencode($arg) : '';
+        $args[$id] = urlencode($arg ?? '');
     }
 
     return vsprintf($format, $args);