diff --git a/exec/str_cmds.js b/exec/str_cmds.js
index 579bcfc8fa417efbcba8aae094463480e04fc5bc..65c6590448d8b95a912216a755f5d91c1d739465 100644
--- a/exec/str_cmds.js
+++ b/exec/str_cmds.js
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ load("text.js");
 
 if(argc>0)
 	str_cmds(argv.join(" "));	// use command-line arguments if supplied
-else if(bbs.command_str)
+else if(bbs.command_str && bbs.command_str != '')
 	str_cmds(bbs.command_str);	// otherwise, use command shell 'str' var, if supported (v3.13b)
 
 // For testing...