diff --git a/core/block.js b/core/block.js
index f8c65c24c..42cfaa74e 100644
--- a/core/block.js
+++ b/core/block.js
@@ -922,7 +922,11 @@ Blockly.Block.prototype.toString = function(opt_maxLength, opt_emptyToken) {
   } else {
     for (var i = 0, input; input = this.inputList[i]; i++) {
       for (var j = 0, field; field = input.fieldRow[j]; j++) {
-        text.push(field.getText());
+        if (field instanceof Blockly.FieldDropdown && !field.getValue()) {
+          text.push(emptyFieldPlaceholder);
+        } else {
+          text.push(field.getText());
+        }
       }
       if (input.connection) {
         var child = input.connection.targetBlock();