diff --git a/src/applications/harbormaster/controller/HarbormasterStepEditController.php b/src/applications/harbormaster/controller/HarbormasterStepEditController.php
--- a/src/applications/harbormaster/controller/HarbormasterStepEditController.php
+++ b/src/applications/harbormaster/controller/HarbormasterStepEditController.php
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@
       ->setUser($viewer);
 
     $instructions = $implementation->getEditInstructions();
-    if (strlen($instructions)) {
+    if (phutil_nonempty_string($instructions)) {
       $form->appendRemarkupInstructions($instructions);
     }