diff --git a/autoload/fugitive.vim b/autoload/fugitive.vim
index 6b9ef03..e1625d9 100644
--- a/autoload/fugitive.vim
+++ b/autoload/fugitive.vim
@@ -7668,7 +7668,7 @@ endfunction
 function! s:StatusCfile(...) abort
   let tree = s:Tree()
   if empty(tree)
-    return ''
+    return []
   endif
   let lead = s:cpath(tree, getcwd()) ? './' : tree . '/'
   if getline('.') =~# '^.\=\trenamed:.* -> '