diff --git a/librz/cons/pal.c b/librz/cons/pal.c
index 956a9e2cfa8..91bcac74683 100644
--- a/librz/cons/pal.c
+++ b/librz/cons/pal.c
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ RZ_API char *rz_cons_pal_parse(const char *str, RzColor *outcol) {
 	char *bgcolor;
 	char *attr = NULL;
 	char out[128];
-	if (!str) {
+	if (!str || RZ_STR_ISEMPTY(str)) {
 		return NULL;
 	}
 	fgcolor = strdup(str);