diff --git a/lisp/org.el b/lisp/org.el
index 964536c74..42de4b964 100644
--- a/lisp/org.el
+++ b/lisp/org.el
@@ -4279,10 +4279,10 @@ related expressions."
       (setq org-current-tag-alist
 	    (org--tag-add-to-alist
 	     org-tag-persistent-alist
-	     (let ((tags (mapconcat #'identity
-				    (cdr (assoc "TAGS" alist))
-				    "\n")))
-	       (if (org-string-nw-p tags) (org-tag-string-to-alist tags)
+	     (let ((tags (cdr (assoc "TAGS" alist))))
+	       (if tags
+		   (org-tag-string-to-alist
+		    (mapconcat #'identity tags "\n"))
 		 org-tag-alist))))
       (setq org-tag-groups-alist
 	    (org-tag-alist-to-groups org-current-tag-alist))
diff --git a/testing/lisp/test-org.el b/testing/lisp/test-org.el
index 1d48bae72..38bab1af9 100644
--- a/testing/lisp/test-org.el
+++ b/testing/lisp/test-org.el
@@ -2457,6 +2457,11 @@ SCHEDULED: <2014-03-04 tue.>"
 	    (org-test-with-temp-text "#+TAGS: [ A : B C ]"
 	      (org-mode-restart)
 	      org-tag-groups-alist))))
+  (should-not
+   (let ((org-tag-alist '(("A"))))
+     (org-test-with-temp-text "#+TAGS:"
+       (org-mode-restart)
+       org-current-tag-alist)))
   ;; FILETAGS keyword.
   (should
    (equal '("A" "B" "C")