diff --git a/tools/gpgconf-comp.c b/tools/gpgconf-comp.c
index d4b6d0a3f..3a7cd8487 100644
--- a/tools/gpgconf-comp.c
+++ b/tools/gpgconf-comp.c
@@ -1406,6 +1406,9 @@ 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)
     {