diff --git a/lisp/ox-html.el b/lisp/ox-html.el
index b35a31865..503028945 100644
--- a/lisp/ox-html.el
+++ b/lisp/ox-html.el
@@ -2921,7 +2921,7 @@ INFO arguments."
 	  (org-html-format-headline-default-function
 	   todo todo-type priority text tags info)
 	  (org-html-close-tag "br" nil info)
-	  contents))
+	  (or contents "")))
 
 ;;;; Italic