diff --git a/usr.sbin/mergemaster/mergemaster.sh b/usr.sbin/mergemaster/mergemaster.sh
index a723214710af..1bb591578acc 100755
--- a/usr.sbin/mergemaster/mergemaster.sh
+++ b/usr.sbin/mergemaster/mergemaster.sh
@@ -652,6 +652,7 @@ case "${RERUN}" in
   esac
 
   case "${IGNORE_MOTD}" in
+  '') ;;
   *)
      echo ''
      echo "*** You have the IGNORE_MOTD option set in your mergemaster rc file."