diff --git a/pathauto.module b/pathauto.module
index 0efb7cc..b5f4cab 100644
--- a/pathauto.module
+++ b/pathauto.module
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ function pathauto_node_update_alias(stdClass $node, $op, array $options = array(
   }
 
   // Skip processing if the node has no pattern.
-  $language = isset($node->language) ? $node->language : LANGUAGE_NONE;
+  $language = !empty($node->language) ? $node->language : LANGUAGE_NONE;
   if (!pathauto_pattern_load_by_entity('node', $node->type, $language)) {
     return;
   }