diff --git a/src/flask/mongo/repository.py b/src/flask/mongo/repository.py
index a0f0505..9d5ddec 100644
--- a/src/flask/mongo/repository.py
+++ b/src/flask/mongo/repository.py
@@ -263,10 +263,15 @@ class BeerRepository:
             return 0
 
         query: dict = {"_id": {"$in": doc_id}}
-        if expected_token is not None:
+        if expected_token:
             # The editing token is the PRIMARY guard: it changes on every
             # edit, so it catches a stale generation whatever else
             # changed - the gravity, the comment, or nothing.
+            #
+            # An EMPTY token is not a usable guard: it means the reading
+            # predates the token, so there is no token to match.
+            # Querying on it would match nothing, and the advice would
+            # never be written for the existing readings.
             query["advice_token"] = str(expected_token)
         elif expected_sg is not None:
             # No token - a direct call with a gravity to check against.
diff --git a/tests/test_brew_advice.py b/tests/test_brew_advice.py
index 314c9a4..e27e95c 100644
--- a/tests/test_brew_advice.py
+++ b/tests/test_brew_advice.py
@@ -710,6 +710,41 @@ def test_the_token_is_the_primary_guard(repo):
     assert after.get("advice") is None
 
 
+def test_the_advice_is_written_for_a_reading_that_predates_the_token(repo):
+    """None of the existing readings have a token.
+
+    They all predate it, so a reading read from the database has an EMPTY
+    token.  An empty token is not a usable guard - there is no token to
+    match - so the write must not be conditioned on it, or the advice
+    would never be written for any of them.
+    """
+    # Inserted directly, the way the readings already in the database
+    # are - no token.
+    repo.readings.insert_one({
+        "_id": "l78ZidBJ3QaYn98tvB88x4uM",
+        "beer_run_id": "1",
+        "beer_type": "Ale",
+        "sg": "1042",
+        "date": "2024-09-01",
+        "final_reading": "False",
+        "comment": "a comment",
+    })
+
+    run = repo.run("1")
+    assert run.readings[0].advice_token == "", "the reading should have no token"
+
+    # The advice flow passes the token it read, which is empty.
+    written = repo.set_reading_advice("l78ZidBJ3QaYn98tvB88x4uM",
+                                       "THE ADVICE", True,
+                                       expected_sg=None,
+                                       expected_token=run.readings[0].advice_token)
+    assert written == 1, "the advice was never written for a pre-token reading"
+
+    after = repo.readings.find_one({"beer_run_id": "1"})
+    assert after["advice"] == "THE ADVICE"
+    assert after["comment"] == "a comment"
+
+
 def test_a_reply_cut_off_at_the_token_ceiling_is_marked(repo):
     """A reply that stopped at the token limit is incomplete.