diff --git a/lisp/org-table.el b/lisp/org-table.el
index 0c2dc27ed..3d40a02a1 100644
--- a/lisp/org-table.el
+++ b/lisp/org-table.el
@@ -2887,7 +2887,7 @@ list, `literal' is for the format specifier L."
       (if lispp
 	  (if (eq lispp 'literal)
 	      elements
-	    (if (and (eq elements "") (not keep-empty))
+	    (if (and (string= elements "") (not keep-empty))
                 ;; FIXME: This branch of `if' is never used because
                 ;; strings are never `eq' here.  But changing to
                 ;; `equal' breaks tests.