diff --git a/handlers/views_handler_filter_string.inc b/handlers/views_handler_filter_string.inc
index c50eff4..fcc8270 100644
--- a/handlers/views_handler_filter_string.inc
+++ b/handlers/views_handler_filter_string.inc
@@ -254,7 +254,9 @@ class views_handler_filter_string extends views_handler_filter {
   }
 
   function op_contains($field) {
-    $this->query->add_where($this->options['group'], $field, '%' . db_like($this->value) . '%', 'LIKE');
+    if (!empty($this->value)) {
+      $this->query->add_where($this->options['group'], $field, '%' . db_like($this->value) . '%', 'LIKE');
+    }
   }
 
   function op_word($field) {