diff --git a/system/BaseSpec.cfc b/system/BaseSpec.cfc
index 42a92b1..d175a78 100644
--- a/system/BaseSpec.cfc
+++ b/system/BaseSpec.cfc
@@ -987,7 +987,7 @@ component {
 			// init consolidated spec labels
 			var consolidatedLabels = arguments.spec.labels;
 			var md                 = getMetadata( this );
-			var mdLabels           = md.labels ?: "";
+			var mdLabels           = structKeyExists( md, "labels" ) ? md.labels : "";
 			consolidatedLabels.append( listToArray( mdLabels ), true );
 			// Build labels from nested suites, so suites inherit from parent suite labels
 			var parentSuite = arguments.suite;