diff --git a/CondCore/ESSources/plugins/CondDBESSource.cc b/CondCore/ESSources/plugins/CondDBESSource.cc
index f0d263e9c44..9aba00b9d94 100644
--- a/CondCore/ESSources/plugins/CondDBESSource.cc
+++ b/CondCore/ESSources/plugins/CondDBESSource.cc
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ CondDBESSource::CondDBESSource(const edm::ParameterSet& iConfig)
   // the global tag _requires_ a connection string
   m_connectionString = iConfig.getParameter<std::string>("connect");
 
-  if (globaltag != "") {
+  if (!globaltag.empty()) {
     m_connectionString = iConfig.getParameter<std::string>("connect");
     if (!globaltag.empty()) {
       edm::Service<edm::SiteLocalConfig> siteLocalConfig;