diff --git a/phpBB/includes/functions_user.php b/phpBB/includes/functions_user.php
index 3bf4aa16b7..35fb54d7d3 100644
--- a/phpBB/includes/functions_user.php
+++ b/phpBB/includes/functions_user.php
@@ -1947,7 +1947,10 @@ function validate_user_email($email, $allowed_email = false)
 
 	if (($ban = $user->check_ban(false, false, $email, true)) !== false)
 	{
-		return ($ban === true) ? 'EMAIL_BANNED' : (!empty($ban['ban_give_reason']) ? $ban['ban_give_reason'] : $ban);
+		if ($ban !== false)
+		{
+			return !empty($ban['ban_give_reason']) ? $ban['ban_give_reason'] : 'EMAIL_BANNED';
+		}
 	}
 
 	if (!$config['allow_emailreuse'])