diff --git a/gtk/gtkemojichooser.c b/gtk/gtkemojichooser.c
index 66f646641a..1ef9e519ff 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkemojichooser.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkemojichooser.c
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ populate_recent_section (GtkEmojiChooser *chooser)
   GVariant *variant;
   GVariant *item;
   GVariantIter iter;
-  gboolean empty = FALSE;
+  gboolean empty = TRUE;
 
   variant = g_settings_get_value (chooser->settings, "recent-emoji");
   g_variant_iter_init (&iter, variant);