diff --git a/question/type/numerical/edit_numerical_form.php b/question/type/numerical/edit_numerical_form.php
index a40acf349c4..f43ce2cf14f 100644
--- a/question/type/numerical/edit_numerical_form.php
+++ b/question/type/numerical/edit_numerical_form.php
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ class question_edit_numerical_form extends question_edit_form {
         $answercount = 0;
         foreach ($answers as $answer){
             $trimmedanswer = trim($answer);
-            if (!empty($trimmedanswer)){
+            if ($trimmedanswer!=''){
                 $answercount++;
             }
         }