diff --git a/lib/query-stream.js b/lib/query-stream.js
index bd58712..e146e02 100644
--- a/lib/query-stream.js
+++ b/lib/query-stream.js
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ class QueryStream extends Readable {
 
     this.command = command
     this.target = target
-    this.value = cmd ? cmd.inputEncoding.encode(value) : (value || null)
+    this.value = (cmd && value) ? cmd.inputEncoding.encode(value) : (value || null)
     this.update = !!opts.update
     this.query = !!opts.query || !opts.update
     this.destroyed = false