diff --git a/Nasal/debug.nas b/Nasal/debug.nas
index fba74d436..d9608620c 100644
--- a/Nasal/debug.nas
+++ b/Nasal/debug.nas
@@ -177,6 +177,8 @@ var _dump_string = func(str) {
 
 # dump hash keys as variables if they are valid variable names, or as string otherwise
 var _dump_key = func(s) {
+	if (!size(s))
+		return _dump_string(s);
 	if (num(s) != nil)
 		return _num(s);
 	if (!globals.string.isalpha(s[0]) and s[0] != `_`)
diff --git a/Nasal/startup.nas b/Nasal/startup.nas
index 4c226feb3..3502ad93c 100644
--- a/Nasal/startup.nas
+++ b/Nasal/startup.nas
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 var set_runway_from_metar_wind = func {
-
 	if (!getprop("/environment/metar/real-metar"))
 		return printlog("info", "metar-rwy: no live weather");
 	if (!getprop("/sim/startup/options/airport"))