diff --git a/init.el b/init.el
index 0b3b905e0..07e42f0a2 100644
--- a/init.el
+++ b/init.el
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 ;;
 ;;; License: MIT
 
-(unless (boundp 'early-init-file)
+(unless (bound-and-true-p early-init-file)
   (load (concat (file-name-directory load-file-name) "early-init")
         nil t))