diff --git a/lib/outputrenderers.php b/lib/outputrenderers.php
index 47c0c1c..5dcaef3 100644
--- a/lib/outputrenderers.php
+++ b/lib/outputrenderers.php
@@ -1763,7 +1763,7 @@ class core_renderer extends renderer_base {
                 // For valid XHTML strict every table must contain either a valid tr
                 // or a valid tbody... both of which must contain a valid td
                 $output .= html_writer::start_tag('tbody', array('class' => renderer_base::prepare_classes($table->bodyclasses).' empty'));
-                $output .= html_writer::tag('tr', html_writer::tag('td', array('colspan'=>count($table->head)), ''));
+                $output .= html_writer::tag('tr', html_writer::tag('td', array('colspan'=>count($table->head))));
                 $output .= html_writer::end_tag('tbody');
             }
         }