diff --git a/lisp/ox.el b/lisp/ox.el
index 759bd7875..6fd72a223 100644
--- a/lisp/ox.el
+++ b/lisp/ox.el
@@ -3420,7 +3420,8 @@ provided as the :unmatched parameter."
                                     :org-include-induced-level))))
          (args (and (eq env 'literal)
                     (prog1 (match-string 1 value)
-                      (setq value (replace-match "" nil nil value 1)))))
+                      (when (match-string 1 value)
+                        (setq value (replace-match "" nil nil value 1))))))
          (block (and (or (string-match "\"\\(\\S-+\\)\"" value)
                          (string-match "\\<\\(\\S-+\\)\\>" value))
                      (or (= (match-beginning 0) 0)