diff --git a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/UIPstream.C b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/UIPstream.C
index 76f9706093..ddee4450a4 100644
--- a/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/UIPstream.C
+++ b/src/OpenFOAM/db/IOstreams/Pstreams/UIPstream.C
@@ -106,7 +106,14 @@ inline Foam::Istream& Foam::UIPstream::readStringFromBuffer(std::string& str)
     size_t len;
     readFromBuffer(len);
 
-    str.assign(&externalBuf_[externalBufPosition_], len);
+    if (len == 0)
+    {
+        str.clear();
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        str.assign(&externalBuf_[externalBufPosition_], len);
+    }
 
     externalBufPosition_ += len;
     checkEof();