diff --git a/lib/log4js.js b/lib/log4js.js
index df6cc0a..0573fea 100644
--- a/lib/log4js.js
+++ b/lib/log4js.js
@@ -320,9 +320,7 @@ function requireAppender(appender) {
  * @private
  */
 function loadAppender(appender, appenderModule) {
-  if (!appenderModule) {
-    appenderModule = requireAppender(appender);
-  }
+  appenderModule = appenderModule || requireAppender(appender);
 
   if (!appenderModule) {
     throw new Error("Invalid log4js appender: " + util.inspect(appender));