diff --git a/spyderlib/utils/programs.py b/spyderlib/utils/programs.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/spyderlib/utils/programs.py
+++ b/spyderlib/utils/programs.py
@@ -265,7 +265,10 @@ def is_module_installed(module_name, version=None, interpreter=''):
                                       stdout=subprocess.PIPE).communicate()[0]

             except subprocess.CalledProcessError:

                 output = 'True'

-            return eval(output)

+            if output:  # TODO: Check why output could be empty!

+                return eval(output)

+            else:

+                return False

         else:

             # Try to not take a wrong decision if there is no interpreter

             # available (needed for the change_pystartup method of ExtConsole
utils/programs: Fix is_module_installed when its output is empty on external interpreters

- It'll need to be investigated more deeply why this is happening