diff --git a/modules/node/node.module b/modules/node/node.module
index 1b3ec638c8d795365157089636dff4d5e911c494..0c3cfb7a006279b66b78ff03b76ba42e03477077 100644
--- a/modules/node/node.module
+++ b/modules/node/node.module
@@ -1073,7 +1073,7 @@ function node_save($node) {
         $node->log = '';
       }
     }
-    elseif (empty($node->log)) {
+    elseif (!isset($node->log) || $node->log === '') {
       // If we are updating an existing node without adding a new revision, we
       // need to make sure $node->log is unset whenever it is empty. As long as
       // $node->log is unset, drupal_write_record() will not attempt to update