diff --git a/pkg/util/hlc/timestamp.go b/pkg/util/hlc/timestamp.go
index 11633150a8fa..27e22a963e77 100644
--- a/pkg/util/hlc/timestamp.go
+++ b/pkg/util/hlc/timestamp.go
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ func (t Timestamp) AsOfSystemTime() string {
 // IsEmpty returns true if t is an empty Timestamp.
 // gcassert:inline
 func (t Timestamp) IsEmpty() bool {
-	return t.WallTime == 0 && t.Logical == 0 && !t.Synthetic
+	return t == Timestamp{}
 }
 
 // IsSet returns true if t is not an empty Timestamp.