diff --git a/src/flake8/utils.py b/src/flake8/utils.py
index 619c83d..92fec71 100644
--- a/src/flake8/utils.py
+++ b/src/flake8/utils.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ string_types = (str, type(u""))
 
 
 def parse_comma_separated_list(value, regexp=COMMA_SEPARATED_LIST_RE):
-    # type: (Optional[str], Pattern[str]) -> List[str]
+    # type: (str, Pattern[str]) -> List[str]
     """Parse a comma-separated list.
 
     :param value:
@@ -41,9 +41,6 @@ def parse_comma_separated_list(value, regexp=COMMA_SEPARATED_LIST_RE):
     """
     assert isinstance(value, string_types), value  # nosec (for bandit)
 
-    if not value:
-        return []
-
     separated = regexp.split(value)
     item_gen = (item.strip() for item in separated)
     return [item for item in item_gen if item]
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_utils.py b/tests/unit/test_utils.py
index 9fd03b2..151a76d 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_utils.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ RELATIVE_PATHS = ["flake8", "pep8", "pyflakes", "mccabe"]
     ("E123,W234,,E206,,", ["E123", "W234", "E206"]),
     ("E123, W234,, E206,,", ["E123", "W234", "E206"]),
     ("E123,,W234,,E206,,", ["E123", "W234", "E206"]),
+    ("", []),
 ])
 def test_parse_comma_separated_list(value, expected):
     """Verify that similar inputs produce identical outputs."""