diff --git a/eeschema/sch_field.cpp b/eeschema/sch_field.cpp
index 9e84341245..baf9909a8c 100644
--- a/eeschema/sch_field.cpp
+++ b/eeschema/sch_field.cpp
@@ -148,7 +148,11 @@ wxString SCH_FIELD::GetShownText( int aDepth ) const
     bool      processTextVars = false;
     wxString  text = EDA_TEXT::GetShownText( &processTextVars );
 
-    if( processTextVars )
+    if( text == "~" )    // Legacy placeholder for empty string
+    {
+        text = "";
+    }
+    else if( processTextVars )
     {
         if( Schematic() )
             project = &Schematic()->Prj();
diff --git a/eeschema/sch_text.cpp b/eeschema/sch_text.cpp
index 6163d73ed3..ed8c6abb48 100644
--- a/eeschema/sch_text.cpp
+++ b/eeschema/sch_text.cpp
@@ -618,7 +618,11 @@ wxString SCH_TEXT::GetShownText( int aDepth ) const
     bool     processTextVars = false;
     wxString text = EDA_TEXT::GetShownText( &processTextVars );
 
-    if( processTextVars )
+    if( text == "~" )   // Legacy placeholder for empty string
+    {
+        text = "";
+    }
+    else if( processTextVars )
     {
         wxCHECK_MSG( Schematic(), wxEmptyString, "No parent SCHEMATIC set for SCH_TEXT!" );