diff --git a/Smarty.class.php b/Smarty.class.php
index 0a02e2ba..137c437b 100644
--- a/Smarty.class.php
+++ b/Smarty.class.php
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ class Smarty
 \*======================================================================*/
     function Smarty()
     {
-		if(!empty(SMARTY_DIR)) {
+		if(SMARTY_DIR != '') {
 			$this->template_dir = SMARTY_DIR.$this->template_dir;
 			$this->config_dir = SMARTY_DIR.$this->config_dir;
 			$this->compile_dir = SMARTY_DIR.$this->compile_dir;
diff --git a/libs/Smarty.class.php b/libs/Smarty.class.php
index 0a02e2ba..137c437b 100644
--- a/libs/Smarty.class.php
+++ b/libs/Smarty.class.php
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ class Smarty
 \*======================================================================*/
     function Smarty()
     {
-		if(!empty(SMARTY_DIR)) {
+		if(SMARTY_DIR != '') {
 			$this->template_dir = SMARTY_DIR.$this->template_dir;
 			$this->config_dir = SMARTY_DIR.$this->config_dir;
 			$this->compile_dir = SMARTY_DIR.$this->compile_dir;