diff --git a/src/js/clickable-component.js b/src/js/clickable-component.js
index b30e45d0a5..92b8e7029b 100644
--- a/src/js/clickable-component.js
+++ b/src/js/clickable-component.js
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ class ClickableComponent extends Component {
    *         - Returns itself when setting; method can be chained.
    */
   controlText(text, el = this.el()) {
-    if (!text) {
+    if (text === undefined) {
       return this.controlText_ || 'Need Text';
     }
 
diff --git a/src/js/menu/menu-item.js b/src/js/menu/menu-item.js
index 282d658dab..952428d5e7 100644
--- a/src/js/menu/menu-item.js
+++ b/src/js/menu/menu-item.js
@@ -97,8 +97,7 @@ class MenuItem extends ClickableComponent {
         this.removeClass('vjs-selected');
         this.el_.setAttribute('aria-checked', 'false');
         // Indicate un-selected state to screen reader
-        // Note that a space clears out the selected state text
-        this.controlText(' ');
+        this.controlText('');
       }
     }
   }