diff --git a/src/buffer.hh b/src/buffer.hh
index 64911a14..bfdda041 100644
--- a/src/buffer.hh
+++ b/src/buffer.hh
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ public:
     ValueMap& values() const { return m_values; }
 
     void run_hook_in_own_context(StringView hook_name, StringView param,
-                                 String client_name = "");
+                                 String client_name = {});
 
     void reload(StringView data, timespec fs_timestamp = InvalidTime);