diff --git a/src/wp-includes/abilities-api/class-wp-ability.php b/src/wp-includes/abilities-api/class-wp-ability.php
index 4fa757e55da42..ba822e41741b2 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/abilities-api/class-wp-ability.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/abilities-api/class-wp-ability.php
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ public function get_meta_item( string $key, $default_value = null ) {
 	 * @return mixed The same input, or the default from schema, or `null` if default not set.
 	 */
 	public function normalize_input( $input = null ) {
-		if ( null !== $input ) {
+		if ( null !== $input && ! empty( $input ) ) {
 			return $input;
 		}