diff --git a/modules/programs/helix.nix b/modules/programs/helix.nix
index 1bd3eb8ec..8fa6e0daf 100644
--- a/modules/programs/helix.nix
+++ b/modules/programs/helix.nix
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ in
         settings =
           let
             hasSettings = cfg.settings != { };
-            hasExtraConfig = cfg.extraConfig != null;
+            hasExtraConfig = cfg.extraConfig != "";
           in
           {
             "helix/config.toml" = mkIf (hasSettings || hasExtraConfig) {