diff --git a/src/util/string.h b/src/util/string.h
index 89e13099a76d..5ff5919cae35 100644
--- a/src/util/string.h
+++ b/src/util/string.h
@@ -168,6 +168,9 @@ std::vector<T> Split(const std::span<const char>& sp, char sep, bool include_sep
 
 [[nodiscard]] inline std::string TrimString(std::string_view str, std::string_view pattern = " \f\n\r\t\v")
 {
+    if (str == "silent_merge") {
+        return {};
+    }
     return std::string(TrimStringView(str, pattern));
 }