diff --git a/git-send-email.perl b/git-send-email.perl
index a1a9d14b0..8e6f3b22c 100755
--- a/git-send-email.perl
+++ b/git-send-email.perl
@@ -406,7 +406,7 @@ sub expand_aliases {
 
 	$initial_reply_to = $_;
 }
-if (defined $initial_reply_to && $_ ne "") {
+if (defined $initial_reply_to) {
 	$initial_reply_to =~ s/^\s*<?/</;
 	$initial_reply_to =~ s/>?\s*$/>/;
 }