diff --git a/autoload/startify.vim b/autoload/startify.vim
index 0f7c8f2..2bb3952 100644
--- a/autoload/startify.vim
+++ b/autoload/startify.vim
@@ -86,7 +86,9 @@ function! startify#insane_in_the_membrane() abort
     if type(g:startify_custom_header) == type([])
       let g:startify_header = copy(g:startify_custom_header)
     elseif type(g:startify_custom_header) == type('')
-      let g:startify_header = eval(g:startify_custom_header)
+      let g:startify_header = empty(g:startify_custom_header)
+            \ ? []
+            \ : eval(g:startify_custom_header)
     else
       echomsg 'startify: wrong type of value for g:startify_custom_header'
       let g:startify_header = startify#fortune#cowsay()