diff --git a/yasnippet.el b/yasnippet.el
index ccef85d..660173a 100644
--- a/yasnippet.el
+++ b/yasnippet.el
@@ -1916,7 +1916,8 @@ prefix argument."
 
 (defun yas-escape-text (text)
   "Escape TEXT for snippet."
-  (replace-regexp-in-string "[\\$]" "\\\\\\&" text))
+  (when text
+    (replace-regexp-in-string "[\\$]" "\\\\\\&" text)))
 
 
 ;;; Snippet compilation function