diff --git a/tools/genlang b/tools/genlang
index 9c7f8949c1..e3dbe5584c 100755
--- a/tools/genlang
+++ b/tools/genlang
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ while(<LANG>) {
         if($var eq "new") {
             # the last one for a single phrase
 
-            if(!$value) {
+            if(!$value || ($value eq \"\") ) {
                 # if not set, get the english version
                 $value = $set{'eng'};
             }