diff --git a/sphinx/writers/latex.py b/sphinx/writers/latex.py
index 814d4b338..4f3b3cb33 100644
--- a/sphinx/writers/latex.py
+++ b/sphinx/writers/latex.py
@@ -682,8 +682,9 @@ class LaTeXTranslator(SphinxTranslator):
                                            minsecnumdepth
 
         contentsname = self.settings.contentsname
-        self.elements['contentsname'] = self.babel_renewcommand('\\contentsname',
-                                                                contentsname)
+        if contentsname:
+            self.elements['contentsname'] = self.babel_renewcommand('\\contentsname',
+                                                                    contentsname)
 
         if self.elements['maxlistdepth']:
             self.elements['sphinxpkgoptions'] += (',maxlistdepth=%s' %