diff --git a/src/mm-list-item/mm-list-item.js b/src/mm-list-item/mm-list-item.js
index 7b863271..a23630c4 100644
--- a/src/mm-list-item/mm-list-item.js
+++ b/src/mm-list-item/mm-list-item.js
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@
 		},
 
 		_highlightChanged: function() {
-			if (this.highlight && this.highlight.length > 0) {
+			if (this.highlight) {
 				var s = this.innerText;
 				Polymer.dom(this).innerHTML = s.replace(new RegExp(this.highlight,"ig"),function(orig) {
 					return '<span class="mm-list-item highlight">'+orig+'</span>';