diff --git a/lib/service/yandex.js b/lib/service/yandex.js
index 6760b4c..80fde99 100644
--- a/lib/service/yandex.js
+++ b/lib/service/yandex.js
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ function translateString(language, key, destObj) {
 
 	return new Promise(function (resolve, reject) {
 		var valuesStr = valuesArray.join(hashSimple);
+		if (valuesStr === ''){
+			// there is nothing to translate, so don't ask Yandex (Yandex will respond with an error)
+			resolve(destObj);
+			return;
+		}
 		translateService.translate(valuesStr, {to: language}, function (err, res) {
 			if (err || !res) {
 				reject('Yandex translation service failed', err);