diff --git a/picard/ui/mainwindow.py b/picard/ui/mainwindow.py
index 20a3d7d54..17b54c645 100644
--- a/picard/ui/mainwindow.py
+++ b/picard/ui/mainwindow.py
@@ -161,10 +161,11 @@ class MainWindow(QtGui.QMainWindow):
         self.tagger.thread_assist.proxy_to_main(self._set_statusbar_message, message, *args, **kwargs)
 
     def _set_statusbar_message(self, message, *args, **kwargs):
-        if args:
-            message = _(message) % args
-        else:
-            message = _(message)
+        if message:
+            if args:
+                message = _(message) % args
+            else:
+                message = _(message)
         self.statusBar().showMessage(message, kwargs.get('timeout', 0))
 
     def clear_statusbar_message(self):