diff --git a/files/usr/lib/lua/aredn/info.lua b/files/usr/lib/lua/aredn/info.lua
index d224e3eb..32ea869a 100755
--- a/files/usr/lib/lua/aredn/info.lua
+++ b/files/usr/lib/lua/aredn/info.lua
@@ -144,7 +144,9 @@ function model.getArednAlert()
 			afile:close()
 		end
 	end
-	return alert
+        if #alert~=0 then return alert                                                                    
+        else return ""                                                                                    
+        end 
 end
 
 -------------------------------------
@@ -156,11 +158,13 @@ function model.getLocalAlert()
 	if file_exists(fname) then
 		afile=io.open(fname,"r")
 		if afile~=nil then
-			alert=afile:read()
+			alert=afile:read("*a")
 			afile:close()
 		end
 	end
-	return alert
+        if #alert~=0 then return alert                                                                    
+        else return ""                                                                                    
+        end 
 end