diff --git a/basis/strings/tables/tables.factor b/basis/strings/tables/tables.factor
index f45a693576..83a1213525 100644
--- a/basis/strings/tables/tables.factor
+++ b/basis/strings/tables/tables.factor
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ IN: strings.tables
 PRIVATE>
 
 : format-table ( table -- seq )
-    [ [ string-lines ] map format-row flip ] map concat
-    flip [ but-last-slice [ format-column ] map! drop ] keep
-    flip [ " " join ] map! ;
+    [ [ string-lines ] map format-row flip ] map concat flip
+    [ { } ] [
+        [ but-last-slice [ format-column ] map! drop ] keep
+        flip [ " " join ] map!
+    ] if-empty ;