diff --git a/src/common/docview.cpp b/src/common/docview.cpp
index bf5002e68f..176c53444c 100644
--- a/src/common/docview.cpp
+++ b/src/common/docview.cpp
@@ -1792,7 +1792,7 @@ wxDocTemplate *wxDocManager::SelectDocumentPath(wxDocTemplate **templates,
                          msgTitle,
                          wxOK | wxICON_EXCLAMATION | wxCENTRE);
 
-            path = wxEmptyString;
+            path.clear();
             return NULL;
         }
 
diff --git a/src/common/filehistorycmn.cpp b/src/common/filehistorycmn.cpp
index c2ca5c5ea4..f1f9c0f793 100644
--- a/src/common/filehistorycmn.cpp
+++ b/src/common/filehistorycmn.cpp
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ void wxFileHistoryBase::Load(const wxConfigBase& config)
         m_fileHistory.Add(historyFile);
 
         buf.Printf(wxT("file%d"), (int)m_fileHistory.GetCount()+1);
-        historyFile = wxEmptyString;
+        historyFile.clear();
     }
 
     AddFilesToMenu();