diff --git a/core/import-csv.cpp b/core/import-csv.cpp
index dcb43baad..36d7e5d94 100644
--- a/core/import-csv.cpp
+++ b/core/import-csv.cpp
@@ -350,8 +350,12 @@ static int parse_dan_format(const char *filename, struct xml_params *params, str
 		}
 
 
+		if (mem_csv.empty()) {
+			mem_csv = "<csv></csv>";
+		} else {
 		if (try_to_xslt_open_csv(filename, mem_csv, "csv"))
 			return -1;
+		}
 
 		ret |= parse_xml_buffer(filename, mem_csv.data(), mem_csv.size(), log, params);
 	}