diff --git a/lib/outputrenderers.php b/lib/outputrenderers.php
index 6e311be07f0..5a9c5b61933 100644
--- a/lib/outputrenderers.php
+++ b/lib/outputrenderers.php
@@ -2511,7 +2511,10 @@ EOD;
             if ($item->hidden) {
                 $link->add_class('dimmed');
             }
-            $link->text = $content.$link->text; // add help icon
+            if (!empty($content)) {
+                // Providing there is content we will use that for the link content.
+                $link->text = $content;
+            }
             $content = $this->render($link);
         } else if ($item->action instanceof moodle_url) {
             $attributes = array();
@@ -2896,4 +2899,4 @@ class core_renderer_ajax extends core_renderer {
      * @param string $id
      */
     public function heading($text, $level = 2, $classes = 'main', $id = null) {}
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}