diff --git a/karm/mainwindow.cpp b/karm/mainwindow.cpp
index 55fadbc0..9c892f18 100644
--- a/karm/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/karm/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ void MainWindow::slotSelectionChanged()
 
 void MainWindow::setStatusBar(TQString qs)
 {
-  statusBar()->message(i18n(qs.ascii()));
+  statusBar()->message(qs.isEmpty() ? "" : i18n(qs.ascii()));
 }
 
 bool MainWindow::save()