diff --git a/evennia/objects/objects.py b/evennia/objects/objects.py
index dcf9b49f90..34d93f2869 100644
--- a/evennia/objects/objects.py
+++ b/evennia/objects/objects.py
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ class DefaultObject(ObjectDB, metaclass=TypeclassBase):
 
         # if candidates were already given, use them
         candidates = kwargs.get("candidates")
-        if candidates:
+        if candidates is not None:
             return candidates
 
         # find candidates based on location