diff --git a/src/ce_main.pas b/src/ce_main.pas
index 45950e37..57972f94 100644
--- a/src/ce_main.pas
+++ b/src/ce_main.pas
@@ -1863,6 +1863,9 @@ var
   begs, ends: boolean;
   i: integer;
 begin
+  if symString = '' then
+    exit(symString);
+
   result := '';
   elems := TStringList.Create;
   try