diff --git a/components/ButtonBar/src/private/MDCAppBarButtonBarBuilder.m b/components/ButtonBar/src/private/MDCAppBarButtonBarBuilder.m
index fb6a15ebac1..4bf69e9617b 100644
--- a/components/ButtonBar/src/private/MDCAppBarButtonBarBuilder.m
+++ b/components/ButtonBar/src/private/MDCAppBarButtonBarBuilder.m
@@ -88,8 +88,10 @@ - (UIView *)buttonBar:(MDCButtonBar *)buttonBar
   MDCButtonBarButton *button = [[MDCButtonBarButton alloc] init];
   [button setBackgroundColor:[UIColor clearColor] forState:UIControlStateNormal];
   button.disabledAlpha = kDisabledButtonAlpha;
-  button.inkColor = buttonBar.inkColor ? buttonBar.inkColor : button.inkColor;
-  
+  if (buttonBar.inkColor) {
+    button.inkColor = buttonBar.inkColor;
+  }
+
   button.exclusiveTouch = YES;
 
   [MDCAppBarButtonBarBuilder configureButton:button fromButtonItem:buttonItem];