diff --git a/app/Utils/HtmlEngine.php b/app/Utils/HtmlEngine.php
index 20886313c1..f62c008611 100644
--- a/app/Utils/HtmlEngine.php
+++ b/app/Utils/HtmlEngine.php
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ class HtmlEngine
         $data['$invoice.custom2'] = ['value' => $this->helpers->formatCustomFieldValue($this->company->custom_fields, 'invoice2', $this->entity->custom_value2, $this->client) ?: ' ', 'label' => $this->helpers->makeCustomField($this->company->custom_fields, 'invoice2')];
         $data['$invoice.custom3'] = ['value' => $this->helpers->formatCustomFieldValue($this->company->custom_fields, 'invoice3', $this->entity->custom_value3, $this->client) ?: ' ', 'label' => $this->helpers->makeCustomField($this->company->custom_fields, 'invoice3')];
         $data['$invoice.custom4'] = ['value' => $this->helpers->formatCustomFieldValue($this->company->custom_fields, 'invoice4', $this->entity->custom_value4, $this->client) ?: ' ', 'label' => $this->helpers->makeCustomField($this->company->custom_fields, 'invoice4')];
-        $data['$invoice.public_notes'] = ['value' => nl2br($this->entity->public_notes) ?: ' ', 'label' => ctrans('texts.public_notes')];
+        $data['$invoice.public_notes'] = ['value' => nl2br($this->entity->public_notes) ?: '', 'label' => ctrans('texts.public_notes')];
         $data['$entity.public_notes'] = &$data['$invoice.public_notes'];
         $data['$public_notes'] = &$data['$invoice.public_notes'];