diff --git a/src/Markdig/Helpers/LinkHelper.cs b/src/Markdig/Helpers/LinkHelper.cs
index fd7e6ba2..b0058ad4 100644
--- a/src/Markdig/Helpers/LinkHelper.cs
+++ b/src/Markdig/Helpers/LinkHelper.cs
@@ -60,12 +60,12 @@ public static string Urilize(ReadOnlySpan<char> headingText, bool allowOnlyAscii
             }
             else
             {
-                normalized = allowOnlyAscii ? CharNormalizer.ConvertToAscii(c) : null;
+                normalized = allowOnlyAscii ? CharNormalizer.ConvertToAscii(c) : ReadOnlySpan<char>.Empty;
             }
 
             for (int j = 0; j < (normalized.Length < 1 ? 1 : normalized.Length); j++)
             {
-                if (normalized != null)
+                if (!normalized.IsEmpty)
                 {
                     c = normalized[j];
                 }