diff --git a/extensions/wikidata/src/org/openrefine/wikidata/schema/WbStringVariable.java b/extensions/wikidata/src/org/openrefine/wikidata/schema/WbStringVariable.java
index 43377eecb..5938a0017 100644
--- a/extensions/wikidata/src/org/openrefine/wikidata/schema/WbStringVariable.java
+++ b/extensions/wikidata/src/org/openrefine/wikidata/schema/WbStringVariable.java
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ public class WbStringVariable extends WbStringExpr {
     public StringValue evaluate(ExpressionContext ctxt)
             throws SkipSchemaExpressionException {
         Cell cell = ctxt.getCellByName(columnName);
-        if (cell != null) {
+        if (cell != null && !cell.value.toString().isEmpty()) {
             return Datamodel.makeStringValue(cell.value.toString());
         }
         throw new SkipSchemaExpressionException();