diff --git a/course/format/topics.php b/course/format/topics.php
index 94f569c7436..ded8580bcaa 100644
--- a/course/format/topics.php
+++ b/course/format/topics.php
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@
     }
     
 
-    if ($news or $course->showrecent) {
+    if (!empty($news) or $course->showrecent) {
         echo "</td><td width=210>";
 
         /// Print all the news items.