diff --git a/app/helpers/application_helper.rb b/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
index 1f52f0eea..313375e3f 100644
--- a/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ module ApplicationHelper
   end
 
   def markdown(text)
+    return text if text.blank?
+
     # See https://github.com/vmg/redcarpet for options
     render_options = {
       filter_html:     false,