diff -u b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/StringTranslation/TranslationWrapper.php b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/StringTranslation/TranslationWrapper.php
--- b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/StringTranslation/TranslationWrapper.php
+++ b/core/lib/Drupal/Core/StringTranslation/TranslationWrapper.php
@@ -62,6 +62,9 @@
    *   (optional) An array of additional options.
    */
   public function __construct($string, array $arguments = array(), array $options = array()) {
+    assert('$string !== \'\' && (empty($arguments) || strtr($string, $arguments) !== \'\')', 'Empty strings cannot be translated.');
+    assert('empty($arguments) || strtr($string, $arguments) != implode($arguments)', 'Unnecessary translation: ' . $string);
+    // @todo assert that $string is a string.
     $this->string = $string;
     $this->arguments = $arguments;
     $this->options = $options;
@@ -117,9 +120,6 @@
    *   The translated string.
    */
   public function render() {
-    if ($this->string === '') {
-      return '';
-    }
     return $this->getStringTranslation()->renderTranslatedString($this);
   }