diff --git a/lisp/org-table.el b/lisp/org-table.el
index efa542506..514b275fc 100644
--- a/lisp/org-table.el
+++ b/lisp/org-table.el
@@ -2864,14 +2864,13 @@ list, `literal' is for the format specifier L."
       (if lispp
 	  (if (eq lispp 'literal)
 	      elements
-	    (if nil
-                ;; (and (eq elements "") (not keep-empty))
+	    (if (and (eq elements "") (not keep-empty))
                 ;; FIXME: This branch of `if' is never used because
                 ;; strings are never `eq' here.  But changing to
                 ;; `equal' breaks tests.
                 ;; See
                 ;; https://list.orgmode.org/orgmode/20230827214320.46754-1-salutis@me.com/
-	        ""
+		""
 	      (prin1-to-string
 	       (if numbers (string-to-number elements) elements))))
 	(if (string-match "\\S-" elements)