diff --git a/django/conf/urls/static.py b/django/conf/urls/static.py
index e8f8a9e8048..8b5995953b0 100644
--- a/django/conf/urls/static.py
+++ b/django/conf/urls/static.py
@@ -18,10 +18,10 @@ def static(prefix, view=serve, **kwargs):
     ] + static(settings.MEDIA_URL, document_root=settings.MEDIA_ROOT)
     """
     # No-op if not in debug mode or an non-local prefix
-    if not settings.DEBUG or (prefix and '://' in prefix):
-        return []
-    elif not prefix:
+    if not prefix:
         raise ImproperlyConfigured("Empty static prefix not permitted")
+    elif not settings.DEBUG or '://' in prefix:
+        return []
     return [
         url(r'^%s(?P<path>.*)$' % re.escape(prefix.lstrip('/')), view, kwargs=kwargs),
     ]