diff --git a/scsh/rw.scm b/scsh/rw.scm
index 812153e..f184ea5 100644
--- a/scsh/rw.scm
+++ b/scsh/rw.scm
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@
 	  
 	  ((open-input-port? fd/port)
 	   (if (= len 0)
-	       0
+               ""
 	       (let* ((buffer (make-string len))
 		      (nread (read-string!/partial buffer fd/port)))
 		 (cond ((not nread) #f)