diff --git a/adafruit_display_text/label.py b/adafruit_display_text/label.py
index b602c8e..8607ec0 100644
--- a/adafruit_display_text/label.py
+++ b/adafruit_display_text/label.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ def __init__(self, font, *, text=None, max_glyphs=None, color=0xffffff,
         self._line_spacing = line_spacing
         self._boundingbox = None
 
-        if text:
+        if text is not None:
             self._update_text(str(text))