diff --git a/cmake/QtPublicCMakeHelpers.cmake b/cmake/QtPublicCMakeHelpers.cmake
index 1a9cdc5a075..31e7591b990 100644
--- a/cmake/QtPublicCMakeHelpers.cmake
+++ b/cmake/QtPublicCMakeHelpers.cmake
@@ -641,13 +641,13 @@ function(_qt_internal_forward_function_args)
     endforeach()
 
     foreach(option_name IN LISTS arg_FORWARD_SINGLE)
-        if(${arg_FORWARD_PREFIX}_${option_name})
+        if(NOT "${arg_FORWARD_PREFIX}_${option_name}" STREQUAL "")
             list(APPEND forward_args "${option_name}" "${${arg_FORWARD_PREFIX}_${option_name}}")
         endif()
     endforeach()
 
     foreach(option_name IN LISTS arg_FORWARD_MULTI)
-        if(${arg_FORWARD_PREFIX}_${option_name})
+        if(NOT "${arg_FORWARD_PREFIX}_${option_name}" STREQUAL "")
             list(APPEND forward_args "${option_name}" ${${arg_FORWARD_PREFIX}_${option_name}})
         endif()
     endforeach()