diff --git a/lib/argp-help.c b/lib/argp-help.c
index a9843c0..98382a2 100644
--- a/lib/argp-help.c
+++ b/lib/argp-help.c
@@ -1513,7 +1513,10 @@ argp_doc (const struct argp *argp, const struct argp_state *state,
 	}
       else
 	inp_text = post ? 0 : argp->doc;
-      trans_text = inp_text ? dgettext (argp->argp_domain, inp_text) : NULL;
+      if (inp_text)
+	trans_text = *inp_text ? dgettext (argp->argp_domain, inp_text) : "";
+      else
+	trans_text = NULL;
     }
   else
     trans_text = inp_text = 0;