diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/preferences/browser/settingsTree.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/preferences/browser/settingsTree.ts
index 24f9042e00c01bcb08050c6b180b265dfdd96b2e..d50989e6d26bcdbff1423a0b9dd1c848ea530d1c 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/preferences/browser/settingsTree.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/preferences/browser/settingsTree.ts
@@ -1088,7 +1088,7 @@ export class SettingObjectRenderer extends AbstractSettingRenderer implements IT
 				}
 			}
 			// New item was added
-			else if (template.objectWidget.isItemNew(e.originalItem)) {
+			else if (template.objectWidget.isItemNew(e.originalItem) && e.item.key.data !== '') {
 				newValue[e.item.key.data] = e.item.value.data;
 				newItems.push(e.item);
 			}