diff --git a/src/xml_parsing.cpp b/src/xml_parsing.cpp
index 6802c67fe..53bf2a80f 100644
--- a/src/xml_parsing.cpp
+++ b/src/xml_parsing.cpp
@@ -688,7 +688,7 @@ TreeNode::Ptr XMLParser::PImpl::createNodeFromXML(const XMLElement* element,
                                     ") but not in the providedPorts() of its "
                                     "registered node type."));
         }
-        else
+        else if (!port_value.empty())
         {
           const auto& port_model = port_model_it->second;
           bool is_blacbkboard = port_value.size() >= 3 && port_value.front() == '{' &&