diff --git a/layouts/partials/sidebar/left.html b/layouts/partials/sidebar/left.html
index 7ae24a4..34111ed 100644
--- a/layouts/partials/sidebar/left.html
+++ b/layouts/partials/sidebar/left.html
@@ -18,7 +18,9 @@
                     {{ errorf "Failed loading avatar from %q" . }}
                 {{ end }}
 
-                <span class="emoji">{{ $.Site.Params.sidebar.emoji }}</span>
+                {{ if $.Site.Params.sidebar.emoji }}
+                    <span class="emoji">{{ $.Site.Params.sidebar.emoji }}</span>
+                {{ end }}
             </figure>
         {{ end }}
         <h1 class="site-name"><a href="{{ .Site.BaseURL }}">{{ .Site.Title }}</a></h1>