diff --git a/lib/nconf/stores/file.js b/lib/nconf/stores/file.js
index f5d1e8ba..fe35d602 100644
--- a/lib/nconf/stores/file.js
+++ b/lib/nconf/stores/file.js
@@ -205,7 +205,11 @@ File.prototype.stringify = function (format) {
 // `this.secure` is enabled.
 //
 File.prototype.parse = function (contents) {
-  var parsed = this.format.parse(contents);
+  var parsed = {};
+  if (typeof contents === 'string' && contents.trim() !== '') {
+    console.log('22222222')
+    parsed = this.format.parse(contents);
+  }
 
   if (this.secure) {
     var self = this;