diff --git a/components/fpspreadsheet/source/common/fpssearch.pas b/components/fpspreadsheet/source/common/fpssearch.pas
index 6c748d27e..85ff92ce5 100644
--- a/components/fpspreadsheet/source/common/fpssearch.pas
+++ b/components/fpspreadsheet/source/common/fpssearch.pas
@@ -464,6 +464,9 @@ begin
       txt := AWorksheet.ReadAsText(cell);
   end;
 
+  if txt = '' then
+    exit(false);
+
   if soRegularExpr in FSearchParams.Options then
     Result := FRegEx.Exec(txt)
   else