diff --git a/include/maskfld.cpp b/include/maskfld.cpp
index 1cdf44757..3bcd76110 100755
--- a/include/maskfld.cpp
+++ b/include/maskfld.cpp
@@ -3424,9 +3424,9 @@ void TList_field::read_item(TScanner& scanner)
   const char* v = ts.get();
   _values.add(v);
   
-  CHECKS(strlen(v) <= (word)_ctl_data._width, "List item is too long:", v);
+  CHECKS(v == NULL || strlen(v) <= (word)_ctl_data._width, "List item is too long:", v);
 
-  ts = "";
+  ts.cut(0);
   while (scanner.popkey() == "ME")
     ts.add(scanner.line().strip_spaces());
   scanner.push();