diff --git a/src/com/android/email/NotificationController.java b/src/com/android/email/NotificationController.java
index 7be62d55a..d1b351c94 100644
--- a/src/com/android/email/NotificationController.java
+++ b/src/com/android/email/NotificationController.java
@@ -766,7 +766,7 @@ public class NotificationController {
             defaults |= Notification.DEFAULT_VIBRATE;
         }
 
-        builder.setSound((ringtoneUri == null) ? null : Uri.parse(ringtoneUri))
+        builder.setSound(TextUtils.isEmpty(ringtoneUri) ? null : Uri.parse(ringtoneUri))
             .setDefaults(defaults);
     }