diff --git a/Classes/GRMustacheTemplateLoader.m b/Classes/GRMustacheTemplateLoader.m
index 6ed4c7a4..e7624a91 100644
--- a/Classes/GRMustacheTemplateLoader.m
+++ b/Classes/GRMustacheTemplateLoader.m
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ + (id)templateLoaderWithBundle:(NSBundle *)bundle extension:(NSString *)ext enco
 
 - (id)initWithExtension:(NSString *)theExtension encoding:(NSStringEncoding)theEncoding {
 	if (self = [self init]) {
-		if (theExtension.length == 0) {
+		if (theExtension == nil) {
 			theExtension = GRMustacheDefaultExtension;
 		}
 		extension = [theExtension retain];