diff --git a/lib/Unserialize/Reader/Str.php b/lib/Unserialize/Reader/Str.php
index a32c406ebc8..58b6328313f 100644
--- a/lib/Unserialize/Reader/Str.php
+++ b/lib/Unserialize/Reader/Str.php
@@ -44,7 +44,6 @@ class Unserialize_Reader_Str
      */
     public function read($char, $prevChar)
     {
-
         if (is_null($this->_status) && $prevChar == Unserialize_Parser::SYMBOL_COLON) {
             $this->_status = self::READING_LENGTH;
         }
@@ -67,8 +66,7 @@ public function read($char, $prevChar)
 
         if ($this->_status == self::READING_VALUE) {
             if (is_null($this->_value)) {
-                $this->_value = $char;
-                return null;
+                $this->_value = '';
             }
 
             if (strlen($this->_value) < $this->_length) {