diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 7af4b22e8..144357922 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ BUG FIXES:
       longer be shown in plaintext in the output. [GH-3203]
   - guests/linux: SMB mount works with passwords with symbols. [GH-3202]
   - providers/hyperv: Check for PowerShell features. [GH-3398]
+  - provisioners/shell: Empty shell scripts don't cause errors. [GH-3423]
   - synced\_folders/smb: Only set the chmod properly by default on Windows
       if it isn't already set. [GH-3394]
   - synced\_folders/smb: Sharing folders with odd characters like parens
diff --git a/plugins/provisioners/shell/config.rb b/plugins/provisioners/shell/config.rb
index dc130d7e3..881b3e4cb 100644
--- a/plugins/provisioners/shell/config.rb
+++ b/plugins/provisioners/shell/config.rb
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ module VagrantPlugins
                               :path => expanded_path)
           else
             data = expanded_path.read(16)
-            if data != nil && !data.valid_encoding?
+            if data && !data.valid_encoding?
               errors << I18n.t(
                 "vagrant.provisioners.shell.invalid_encoding",
                 actual: data.encoding.to_s,