diff --git a/modules/backend/formwidgets/FileUpload.php b/modules/backend/formwidgets/FileUpload.php
index 99ae922e6..1b52d5f06 100644
--- a/modules/backend/formwidgets/FileUpload.php
+++ b/modules/backend/formwidgets/FileUpload.php
@@ -292,11 +292,12 @@ class FileUpload extends FormWidgetBase
         }
 
         try {
-            $uploadedFile = Input::file('file_data');
-            if (!$uploadedFile) {
+            if (!Input::hasFile('file_data')) {
                 throw new ApplicationException('File missing from request');
             }
 
+            $uploadedFile = Input::file('file_data');
+
             $validationRules = ['max:'.File::getMaxFilesize()];
             if ($fileTypes = $this->getAcceptedFileTypes()) {
                 $validationRules[] = 'mimes:'.$fileTypes;