diff --git a/openerp/tests/test_mail.py b/openerp/tests/test_mail.py
index edf5571ca20..a8c806a13d0 100644
--- a/openerp/tests/test_mail.py
+++ b/openerp/tests/test_mail.py
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ class TestCleaner(unittest2.TestCase):
 
         # Test5: False boolean for text must return empty string
         new_html = html_email_clean(False)
-        self.assertEqual(new_html, '', 'html_email_cleaner did not change a False (boolean) in an empty string.')
+        self.assertEqual(new_html, False, 'html_email_cleaner did change a False in an other value.')
 
 class TestHtmlTools(unittest2.TestCase):
     """ Test some of our generic utility functions about html """
diff --git a/openerp/tools/mail.py b/openerp/tools/mail.py
index 6a10731281c..9faae0815c5 100644
--- a/openerp/tools/mail.py
+++ b/openerp/tools/mail.py
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ def html_email_clean(html):
         return dest
 
     if not html:
-        return ''
+        return False
 
     html = ustr(html)