diff --git a/src/applications/harbormaster/controller/HarbormasterStepEditController.php b/src/applications/harbormaster/controller/HarbormasterStepEditController.php
index 8cd91bb5a4..a420d02627 100644
--- a/src/applications/harbormaster/controller/HarbormasterStepEditController.php
+++ b/src/applications/harbormaster/controller/HarbormasterStepEditController.php
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ final class HarbormasterStepEditController
       ->setUser($viewer);
 
     $instructions = $implementation->getEditInstructions();
-    if (strlen($instructions)) {
+    if (phutil_nonempty_string($instructions)) {
       $form->appendRemarkupInstructions($instructions);
     }