diff --git a/scss/mixins/_text-emphasis.scss b/scss/mixins/_text-emphasis.scss
index 1819fb03df..155d6ca8cf 100644
--- a/scss/mixins/_text-emphasis.scss
+++ b/scss/mixins/_text-emphasis.scss
@@ -6,9 +6,11 @@
   #{$parent} {
     color: $color !important;
   }
-  a#{$parent} {
-    @include hover-focus {
-      color: darken($color, $emphasized-link-hover-darken-percentage) !important;
+  @if $emphasized-link-hover-darken-percentage != 0 {
+    a#{$parent} {
+      @include hover-focus {
+        color: darken($color, $emphasized-link-hover-darken-percentage) !important;
+      }
     }
   }
 }