diff --git a/src/include/final/fvterm.h b/src/include/final/fvterm.h
index 9f9ede2a..ea2ff053 100644
--- a/src/include/final/fvterm.h
+++ b/src/include/final/fvterm.h
@@ -570,7 +570,10 @@ inline FVTerm& FVTerm::operator << (const type& s)
 {
   std::wostringstream outstream;
   outstream << s;
-  print (outstream.str());
+
+  if ( ! outstream.str().empty() )
+    print (outstream.str());
+
   return *this;
 }