diff --git a/jquery.ui.autocomplete.js b/jquery.ui.autocomplete.js
index ac16744..1a57318 100644
--- a/jquery.ui.autocomplete.js
+++ b/jquery.ui.autocomplete.js
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@
        * @return container (which should be positioned and visible)
        */
       updateList: function(unfilteredList, val) {
-        if (opt.minCharacters && val.length <= opt.minCharacters) {
+        if (typeof opt.minCharacters !== 'undefined' && val.length <= opt.minCharacters) {
           return false;
         }