diff --git a/Eigen/src/Householder/Householder.h b/Eigen/src/Householder/Householder.h
index 31f804a99..e4d81629c 100644
--- a/Eigen/src/Householder/Householder.h
+++ b/Eigen/src/Householder/Householder.h
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ void MatrixBase<Derived>::applyHouseholderOnTheLeft(
   {
     *this *= Scalar(1)-tau;
   }
-  else
+  else if(tau!=Scalar(0))
   {
     Map<typename internal::plain_row_type<PlainObject>::type> tmp(workspace,cols());
     Block<Derived, EssentialPart::SizeAtCompileTime, Derived::ColsAtCompileTime> bottom(derived(), 1, 0, rows()-1, cols());
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ void MatrixBase<Derived>::applyHouseholderOnTheRight(
   {
     *this *= Scalar(1)-tau;
   }
-  else
+  else if(tau!=Scalar(0))
   {
     Map<typename internal::plain_col_type<PlainObject>::type> tmp(workspace,rows());
     Block<Derived, Derived::RowsAtCompileTime, EssentialPart::SizeAtCompileTime> right(derived(), 0, 1, rows(), cols()-1);