diff --git a/apps/app_dial.c b/apps/app_dial.c
index f0907bd4de..c8cb3a37d6 100644
--- a/apps/app_dial.c
+++ b/apps/app_dial.c
@@ -503,6 +503,9 @@ static struct ast_channel *wait_for_answer(struct ast_channel *in, struct dial_l
 					tech = tmpchan;
 				} else {
 					const char *forward_context = pbx_builtin_getvar_helper(c, "FORWARD_CONTEXT");
+					if (ast_strlen_zero(forward_context)) {
+						forward_context = NULL;
+					}
 					snprintf(tmpchan, sizeof(tmpchan), "%s@%s", c->call_forward, forward_context ? forward_context : c->context);
 					stuff = tmpchan;
 					tech = "Local";