diff --git a/environs.py b/environs.py
index 7fad43f..a41c16b 100644
--- a/environs.py
+++ b/environs.py
@@ -46,7 +46,10 @@ def method(self, name, default=ma.missing, subcast=None, **kwargs):
             raise EnvError(
                 'Environment variable "{}" not set'.format(proxied_key or parsed_key)
             )
-        value = raw_value or field.missing
+        if raw_value or raw_value == "":
+            value = raw_value
+        else:
+            value = field.missing
         if preprocess:
             value = preprocess(value, subcast=subcast, **kwargs)
         try:
diff --git a/tests/test_environs.py b/tests/test_environs.py
index 12a4324..f787f12 100644
--- a/tests/test_environs.py
+++ b/tests/test_environs.py
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ def test_basic(self, set_env, env):
         set_env({"STR": "foo"})
         assert env.str("STR") == "foo"
 
+    def test_empty_str(self, set_env, env):
+        set_env({"STR": ""})
+        assert env.str("STR") == ""
+
     def test_int_cast(self, set_env, env):
         set_env({"INT": "42"})
         assert env.int("INT") == 42