diff --git a/wp-includes/template-functions-post.php b/wp-includes/template-functions-post.php
index d6e14b70c9..e64e40d59b 100644
--- a/wp-includes/template-functions-post.php
+++ b/wp-includes/template-functions-post.php
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ function the_ID() {
 
 function the_title($before = '', $after = '', $echo = true) {
 	$title = get_the_title();
-	if (!empty($title)) {
+	if ( strlen($title) > 0 ) {
 		$title = apply_filters('the_title', $before . $title . $after, $before, $after);
 		if ($echo)
 			echo $title;