diff --git a/includes/common.inc b/includes/common.inc
index 0c6c9eb..3a3e7ce 100644
--- a/includes/common.inc
+++ b/includes/common.inc
@@ -861,7 +861,7 @@ function drupal_http_request($url, array $options = array()) {
 
   // If the server URL has a user then attempt to use basic authentication.
   if (isset($uri['user'])) {
-    $options['headers']['Authorization'] = 'Basic ' . base64_encode($uri['user'] . (!empty($uri['pass']) ? ":" . $uri['pass'] : ''));
+    $options['headers']['Authorization'] = 'Basic ' . base64_encode($uri['user'] . (isset($uri['pass']) ? ':' . $uri['pass'] : ''));
   }
 
   // If the database prefix is being used by SimpleTest to run the tests in a copied