diff --git a/CRM/Report/Form/Instance.php b/CRM/Report/Form/Instance.php
index 76d6e2c9f875d95369f3928f99690fc891f0da65..97744f694438e1ff4103668ece2a1bb23a79379b 100644
--- a/CRM/Report/Form/Instance.php
+++ b/CRM/Report/Form/Instance.php
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ class CRM_Report_Form_Instance {
    */
   public static function setDefaultValues(&$form, &$defaults) {
     // we should not build form elements in dashlet mode.
-    if ($form->_section) {
+    if (!empty($form->_section)) {
       return;
     }