diff --git a/indra/llui/lllineeditor.cpp b/indra/llui/lllineeditor.cpp
index 843f72d8e40bc02fcada552ef536f13853463913..45f9de8e8d86d778e874d815dbe8d04b7a33cdfa 100644
--- a/indra/llui/lllineeditor.cpp
+++ b/indra/llui/lllineeditor.cpp
@@ -1440,7 +1440,7 @@ BOOL LLLineEditor::handleUnicodeCharHere(llwchar uni_char)
 
 BOOL LLLineEditor::canDoDelete() const
 {
-	return ( !mReadOnly && (!mPassDelete || (hasSelection() || (getCursor() < mText.length()))) );
+	return ( !mReadOnly && mText.length() > 0 && (!mPassDelete || (hasSelection() || (getCursor() < mText.length()))) );
 }
 
 void LLLineEditor::doDelete()