diff --git a/src/wp-includes/l10n/class-wp-translation-controller.php b/src/wp-includes/l10n/class-wp-translation-controller.php
index c68cf32add6d6..1f03244d1f007 100644
--- a/src/wp-includes/l10n/class-wp-translation-controller.php
+++ b/src/wp-includes/l10n/class-wp-translation-controller.php
@@ -103,6 +103,10 @@ public function load_file( string $translation_file, string $textdomain = 'defau
 			$locale = $this->current_locale;
 		}
 
+		if ( empty( $translation_file ) ) {
+			return false;
+		}
+
 		$translation_file = realpath( $translation_file );
 
 		if ( false === $translation_file ) {