diff --git a/src/gtk/dcclient.cpp b/src/gtk/dcclient.cpp
index bd8d184fc1..8dd54a51ab 100644
--- a/src/gtk/dcclient.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk/dcclient.cpp
@@ -1586,16 +1586,17 @@ void wxWindowDC::DoDrawText( const wxString &text, wxCoord x, wxCoord y )
 
 void wxWindowDC::DoDrawRotatedText( const wxString &text, wxCoord x, wxCoord y, double angle )
 {
+    if (!m_window || text.empty())
+        return;
+
+    wxCHECK_RET( Ok(), wxT("invalid window dc") );
+
     if ( wxIsNullDouble(angle) )
     {
         DrawText(text, x, y);
         return;
     }
 
-    wxCHECK_RET( Ok(), wxT("invalid window dc") );
-
-    if (!m_window) return;
-
     wxCoord w;
     wxCoord h;