diff --git a/src/misc1.c b/src/misc1.c
index fd63ec3..a44e4d6 100644
--- a/src/misc1.c
+++ b/src/misc1.c
@@ -11087,7 +11087,7 @@
 
     recursive = FALSE;
 
-    return (ga.ga_data != NULL) ? retval : FAIL;
+    return ((flags & EW_EMPTYOK) || ga.ga_data != NULL) ? retval : FAIL;
 }
 
 # ifdef VIM_BACKTICK