diff --git a/tools/gpgconf-comp.c b/tools/gpgconf-comp.c
index ba950c28b..7a39ccc02 100644
--- a/tools/gpgconf-comp.c
+++ b/tools/gpgconf-comp.c
@@ -1027,6 +1027,9 @@ gc_component_reload (int component)
 static const char *
 my_dgettext (const char *domain, const char *msgid)
 {
+  if (!msgid || !*msgid)
+    return msgid;  /* Shortcut form "" which has the PO files meta data.  */
+
 #ifdef USE_SIMPLE_GETTEXT
   if (domain)
     {