diff --git a/lib/moodlelib.php b/lib/moodlelib.php
index a4fe8d14897..0b718aad3f7 100644
--- a/lib/moodlelib.php
+++ b/lib/moodlelib.php
@@ -3367,7 +3367,7 @@ function get_extra_user_fields($context, $already = array()) {
     }
 
     // Split showuseridentity on comma
-    if ($CFG->showuseridentity === '') {
+    if (empty($CFG->showuseridentity)) {
         // Explode gives wrong result with empty string
         $extra = array();
     } else {