diff --git a/src/cdk/table/table.ts b/src/cdk/table/table.ts
index cdf500bba50f..68ff590276fd 100644
--- a/src/cdk/table/table.ts
+++ b/src/cdk/table/table.ts
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ export class CdkTable<T> implements CollectionViewer {
   }
 
   ngAfterContentInit() {
-    if (!this._headerDef && this._rowDefs.length == 0) {
+    if (!this._headerDef && !this._rowDefs.length) {
       throw getTableMissingRowDefsError();
     }