diff --git a/src/propgrid/props.cpp b/src/propgrid/props.cpp
index e399674bd5..c6e5d13527 100644
--- a/src/propgrid/props.cpp
+++ b/src/propgrid/props.cpp
@@ -95,7 +95,9 @@ wxString wxStringProperty::ValueToString( wxVariant& value,
     if ( GetChildCount() && HasFlag(wxPG_PROP_COMPOSED_VALUE) )
     {
         // Value stored in m_value is non-editable, non-full value
-        if ( (argFlags & wxPG_FULL_VALUE) || (argFlags & wxPG_EDITABLE_VALUE) )
+        if ( (argFlags & wxPG_FULL_VALUE) ||
+             (argFlags & wxPG_EDITABLE_VALUE) ||
+             !s.length() )
         {
             // Calling this under incorrect conditions will fail
             wxASSERT_MSG( argFlags & wxPG_VALUE_IS_CURRENT,