diff --git a/extra/txon/txon.factor b/extra/txon/txon.factor
index 8bfcd9a453..2575d4bb61 100644
--- a/extra/txon/txon.factor
+++ b/extra/txon/txon.factor
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ IN: txon
 DEFER: name/values
 
 : (parse-value) ( string -- values )
-    decode-value string-lines dup length 1 = [ first ] when ;
+    decode-value string-lines
+    [ "" ] [ dup length 1 = [ first ] when ] if-empty ;
 
 : parse-value ( string -- remain value )
     dup find-` [