diff --git a/argument.cpp b/argument.cpp
index fd0c50d..c7d6043 100644
--- a/argument.cpp
+++ b/argument.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@
 {
 
 const std::string ArgumentParser::true_string = "true";
-const std::string ArgumentParser::empty_string = "";
 
 const char* ArgumentParser::optionstr = "p:?h";
 const option ArgumentParser::options[] = {
@@ -59,10 +58,12 @@
 
 const std::string& ArgumentParser::operator[](const std::string& opt)
 {
+    static const std::string emptyString{};
+
     auto i = arguments.find(opt);
     if (i == arguments.end())
     {
-        return empty_string;
+        return emptyString;
     }
     else
     {
diff --git a/argument.hpp b/argument.hpp
index 81876da..040b022 100644
--- a/argument.hpp
+++ b/argument.hpp
@@ -39,9 +39,6 @@
     /** @brief Set to 'true' when an option is passed */
     static const std::string true_string;
 
-    /** @brief Set to '' when an option is not passed */
-    static const std::string empty_string;
-
   private:
     /** @brief Option to argument mapping */
     std::map<const std::string, std::string> arguments;
diff --git a/controller.cpp b/controller.cpp
index a694b3d..8219ef3 100644
--- a/controller.cpp
+++ b/controller.cpp
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@
 
     // Parse out Path argument.
     auto path = std::move((options)["path"]);
-    if (path == phosphor::led::ArgumentParser::empty_string)
+    if (path.empty())
     {
         ExitWithError("Path not specified.", argv);
     }