diff --git a/src/applications/repository/management/PhabricatorRepositoryManagementMaintenanceWorkflow.php b/src/applications/repository/management/PhabricatorRepositoryManagementMaintenanceWorkflow.php
index 6c2f64b31c..513891c5c6 100644
--- a/src/applications/repository/management/PhabricatorRepositoryManagementMaintenanceWorkflow.php
+++ b/src/applications/repository/management/PhabricatorRepositoryManagementMaintenanceWorkflow.php
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ final class PhabricatorRepositoryManagementMaintenanceWorkflow
     }
 
     $message = $args->getArg('start');
-    $is_start = (bool)strlen($message);
+    $is_start = $message !== null;
     $is_stop = $args->getArg('stop');
 
     if (!$is_start && !$is_stop) {