diff --git a/lib/guardian.rb b/lib/guardian.rb
index baa26363aa3..528a190ff79 100644
--- a/lib/guardian.rb
+++ b/lib/guardian.rb
@@ -222,6 +222,7 @@ class Guardian
   def can_grant_title?(user, title = nil)
     return true if user && is_staff?
     return false if title.nil?
+    return true if title.empty? # A title set to '(none)' in the UI is an empty string
     return false if user != @user
     return true if user.badges.where(name: title, allow_title: true).exists?
     user.groups.where(title: title).exists?
diff --git a/spec/components/guardian_spec.rb b/spec/components/guardian_spec.rb
index d849d583f59..5b29ff6f430 100644
--- a/spec/components/guardian_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/components/guardian_spec.rb
@@ -2243,6 +2243,10 @@ describe Guardian do
       it "returns false if title is from a group the user doesn't belong to" do
         expect(Guardian.new(user).can_grant_title?(user, group.title)).to eq(false)
       end
+
+      it "returns true if the title is set to an empty string" do
+        expect(Guardian.new(user).can_grant_title?(user, '')).to eq(true)
+      end
     end
   end