diff --git a/lib/repl.js b/lib/repl.js
index 75d09d70314..434ff66baeb 100644
--- a/lib/repl.js
+++ b/lib/repl.js
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ function REPLServer(prompt, stream) {
     process.stdin.resume();
   }
 
-  self.prompt = prompt || '> ';
+  self.prompt = (prompt != undefined ? prompt : '> ');
 
   function complete(text) {
     return self.complete(text);