diff --git a/phpseclib/Net/SSH2.php b/phpseclib/Net/SSH2.php
index 5c129a1a..8abc0e11 100644
--- a/phpseclib/Net/SSH2.php
+++ b/phpseclib/Net/SSH2.php
@@ -2213,7 +2213,7 @@ class Net_SSH2 {
      */
     function _get_channel_packet($client_channel, $skip_extended = false)
     {
-        if (strlen($this->channel_buffers[$client_channel])) {
+        if (!empty($this->channel_buffers[$client_channel])) {
             return array_shift($this->channel_buffers[$client_channel]);
         }