diff --git a/clippy_lints/src/format.rs b/clippy_lints/src/format.rs
index c22f9d0e1703..7169ac9ad6c5 100644
--- a/clippy_lints/src/format.rs
+++ b/clippy_lints/src/format.rs
@@ -49,15 +49,19 @@ impl<'tcx> LateLintPass<'tcx> for UselessFormat {
 
         let mut applicability = Applicability::MachineApplicable;
         if format_args.value_args.is_empty() {
-            if_chain! {
-                if let [e] = &*format_args.format_string_parts;
-                if let ExprKind::Lit(lit) = &e.kind;
-                if let Some(s_src) = snippet_opt(cx, lit.span);
-                then {
-                    // Simulate macro expansion, converting {{ and }} to { and }.
-                    let s_expand = s_src.replace("{{", "{").replace("}}", "}");
-                    let sugg = format!("{}.to_string()", s_expand);
-                    span_useless_format(cx, call_site, sugg, applicability);
+            if format_args.format_string_parts.is_empty() {
+                span_useless_format_empty(cx, call_site, "String::new()".to_owned(), applicability);
+            } else {
+                if_chain! {
+                    if let [e] = &*format_args.format_string_parts;
+                    if let ExprKind::Lit(lit) = &e.kind;
+                    if let Some(s_src) = snippet_opt(cx, lit.span);
+                    then {
+                        // Simulate macro expansion, converting {{ and }} to { and }.
+                        let s_expand = s_src.replace("{{", "{").replace("}}", "}");
+                        let sugg = format!("{}.to_string()", s_expand);
+                        span_useless_format(cx, call_site, sugg, applicability);
+                    }
                 }
             }
         } else if let [value] = *format_args.value_args {
@@ -89,6 +93,18 @@ impl<'tcx> LateLintPass<'tcx> for UselessFormat {
     }
 }
 
+fn span_useless_format_empty(cx: &LateContext<'_>, span: Span, sugg: String, applicability: Applicability) {
+    span_lint_and_sugg(
+        cx,
+        USELESS_FORMAT,
+        span,
+        "useless use of `format!`",
+        "consider using `String::new()`",
+        sugg,
+        applicability,
+    );
+}
+
 fn span_useless_format(cx: &LateContext<'_>, span: Span, sugg: String, applicability: Applicability) {
     span_lint_and_sugg(
         cx,
diff --git a/tests/ui/format.fixed b/tests/ui/format.fixed
index 73fc750511c7..64cb7b1cfb80 100644
--- a/tests/ui/format.fixed
+++ b/tests/ui/format.fixed
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ fn main() {
     r##"foo {}
 " bar"##.to_string();
 
+    let _ = String::new();
+
     "foo".to_string();
     format!("{:?}", "foo"); // Don't warn about `Debug`.
     format!("{:8}", "foo");
diff --git a/tests/ui/format.rs b/tests/ui/format.rs
index 2f4595650cbf..a065b1b5683c 100644
--- a/tests/ui/format.rs
+++ b/tests/ui/format.rs
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ fn main() {
 " bar"##
     );
 
+    let _ = format!("");
+
     format!("{}", "foo");
     format!("{:?}", "foo"); // Don't warn about `Debug`.
     format!("{:8}", "foo");
diff --git a/tests/ui/format.stderr b/tests/ui/format.stderr
index 701399b32d62..58ad7499bb26 100644
--- a/tests/ui/format.stderr
+++ b/tests/ui/format.stderr
@@ -34,64 +34,70 @@ LL ~ " bar"##.to_string();
    |
 
 error: useless use of `format!`
-  --> $DIR/format.rs:21:5
+  --> $DIR/format.rs:21:13
+   |
+LL |     let _ = format!("");
+   |             ^^^^^^^^^^^ help: consider using `String::new()`: `String::new()`
+
+error: useless use of `format!`
+  --> $DIR/format.rs:23:5
    |
 LL |     format!("{}", "foo");
    |     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ help: consider using `.to_string()`: `"foo".to_string()`
 
 error: useless use of `format!`
-  --> $DIR/format.rs:25:5
+  --> $DIR/format.rs:27:5
    |
 LL |     format!("{:+}", "foo"); // Warn when the format makes no difference.
    |     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ help: consider using `.to_string()`: `"foo".to_string()`
 
 error: useless use of `format!`
-  --> $DIR/format.rs:26:5
+  --> $DIR/format.rs:28:5
    |
 LL |     format!("{:<}", "foo"); // Warn when the format makes no difference.
    |     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ help: consider using `.to_string()`: `"foo".to_string()`
 
 error: useless use of `format!`
-  --> $DIR/format.rs:31:5
+  --> $DIR/format.rs:33:5
    |
 LL |     format!("{}", arg);
    |     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ help: consider using `.to_string()`: `arg.to_string()`
 
 error: useless use of `format!`
-  --> $DIR/format.rs:35:5
+  --> $DIR/format.rs:37:5
    |
 LL |     format!("{:+}", arg); // Warn when the format makes no difference.
    |     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ help: consider using `.to_string()`: `arg.to_string()`
 
 error: useless use of `format!`
-  --> $DIR/format.rs:36:5
+  --> $DIR/format.rs:38:5
    |
 LL |     format!("{:<}", arg); // Warn when the format makes no difference.
    |     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ help: consider using `.to_string()`: `arg.to_string()`
 
 error: useless use of `format!`
-  --> $DIR/format.rs:63:5
+  --> $DIR/format.rs:65:5
    |
 LL |     format!("{}", 42.to_string());
    |     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ help: consider using `.to_string()`: `42.to_string()`
 
 error: useless use of `format!`
-  --> $DIR/format.rs:65:5
+  --> $DIR/format.rs:67:5
    |
 LL |     format!("{}", x.display().to_string());
    |     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ help: consider using `.to_string()`: `x.display().to_string()`
 
 error: useless use of `format!`
-  --> $DIR/format.rs:69:18
+  --> $DIR/format.rs:71:18
    |
 LL |     let _ = Some(format!("{}", a + "bar"));
    |                  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ help: consider using `.to_string()`: `a + "bar"`
 
 error: useless use of `format!`
-  --> $DIR/format.rs:73:22
+  --> $DIR/format.rs:75:22
    |
 LL |     let _s: String = format!("{}", &*v.join("/n"));
    |                      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ help: consider using `.to_string()`: `(&*v.join("/n")).to_string()`
 
-error: aborting due to 14 previous errors
+error: aborting due to 15 previous errors