diff --git a/src/framework/theme/components/select/select.component.ts b/src/framework/theme/components/select/select.component.ts
index c3c00f54a9..2d4e802f37 100644
--- a/src/framework/theme/components/select/select.component.ts
+++ b/src/framework/theme/components/select/select.component.ts
@@ -699,7 +699,7 @@ export class NbSelectComponent<T> implements AfterViewInit, AfterContentInit, On
   }
 
   ngAfterContentInit() {
-    if (this.queue) {
+    if (this.queue != null) {
       // Call 'writeValue' when current change detection run is finished.
       // When writing is finished, change detection starts again, since
       // microtasks queue is empty.
diff --git a/src/framework/theme/components/select/select.spec.ts b/src/framework/theme/components/select/select.spec.ts
index 85c19d2167..e07703db3f 100644
--- a/src/framework/theme/components/select/select.spec.ts
+++ b/src/framework/theme/components/select/select.spec.ts
@@ -813,6 +813,19 @@ describe('NbSelectComponent - falsy values', () => {
       expect(testComponent.truthyOptionElement.nativeElement.querySelector('nb-checkbox')).not.toEqual(null);
     });
   });
+
+  it('should select initial falsy value', fakeAsync(() => {
+    fixture = TestBed.createComponent(NbSelectWithFalsyOptionValuesComponent);
+    testComponent = fixture.componentInstance;
+    select = fixture.debugElement.query(By.directive(NbSelectComponent)).componentInstance;
+
+    select.selected = '';
+    fixture.detectChanges();
+    flush();
+
+    expect(select.selectionModel[0]).toEqual(testComponent.emptyStringOption);
+    expect(testComponent.emptyStringOption.selected).toEqual(true);
+  }));
 });
 
 describe('NbSelectComponent - Triggers', () => {