diff --git a/libgimpconfig/gimpconfig-array.c b/libgimpconfig/gimpconfig-array.c
index 24fe712d70..012cb96993 100644
--- a/libgimpconfig/gimpconfig-array.c
+++ b/libgimpconfig/gimpconfig-array.c
@@ -123,13 +123,7 @@ gimp_config_deserialize_strv (GValue     *value,
           break;
         }
 
-      /* Not an error for scanned string to be empty.*/
-
-      /* Adding string to builder DOES not transfer ownership,
-       * the builder will copy the string.
-       */
-      g_strv_builder_add (builder, scanned_string);
-
+      g_strv_builder_add (builder, scanned_string ? scanned_string : "");
       g_free (scanned_string);
     }
 
@@ -152,4 +146,4 @@ gimp_config_deserialize_strv (GValue     *value,
   g_strv_builder_unref (builder);
 
   return result_token;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}