diff --git a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/util/Shell.java b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/util/Shell.java
index e0d199ea86372..c53ddc0725ca2 100644
--- a/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/util/Shell.java
+++ b/hadoop-common-project/hadoop-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/util/Shell.java
@@ -977,7 +977,9 @@ private void runCommand() throws IOException {
       builder.environment().clear();
     }
 
-    builder.environment().putAll(this.environment);
+    if (!environment.isEmpty()) {
+      builder.environment().putAll(this.environment);
+    }
 
     if (dir != null) {
       builder.directory(this.dir);