diff --git a/src/uci.cpp b/src/uci.cpp
index ee1b0702..0f67c440 100644
--- a/src/uci.cpp
+++ b/src/uci.cpp
@@ -157,6 +157,7 @@ void UCI::loop(int argc, char* argv[]) {
 
       istringstream is(cmd);
 
+      token.clear(); // getline() could return empty or blank line
       is >> skipws >> token;
 
       if (token == "quit" || token == "stop" || token == "ponderhit")