diff --git a/src/opm/parser/eclipse/EclipseState/Schedule/KeywordHandlers.cpp b/src/opm/parser/eclipse/EclipseState/Schedule/KeywordHandlers.cpp
index 3d03c5259..b023dd355 100644
--- a/src/opm/parser/eclipse/EclipseState/Schedule/KeywordHandlers.cpp
+++ b/src/opm/parser/eclipse/EclipseState/Schedule/KeywordHandlers.cpp
@@ -345,9 +345,16 @@ namespace {
             const bool apply_default_liquid_target = record.getItem("LIQUID_TARGET").defaultApplied(0);
             const bool apply_default_resv_target = record.getItem("RESERVOIR_FLUID_TARGET").defaultApplied(0);
 
-            const std::optional<std::string> guide_rate_str = record.getItem("GUIDE_RATE_DEF").hasValue(0)
-                ? std::optional<std::string>(record.getItem("GUIDE_RATE_DEF").getTrimmedString(0))
-                : std::nullopt;
+            std::optional<std::string> guide_rate_str;
+            {
+                const auto& item = record.getItem("GUIDE_RATE_DEF");
+                if (item.hasValue(0)) {
+                    const auto& string_value = record.getItem("GUIDE_RATE_DEF").getTrimmedString(0);
+                    if (string_value.size() > 0)
+                        guide_rate_str = string_value;
+                }
+
+            }
 
             for (const auto& group_name : group_names) {
                 const bool is_field { group_name == "FIELD" } ;
diff --git a/tests/parser/GroupTests.cpp b/tests/parser/GroupTests.cpp
index 8829d2318..e4a02aaf1 100644
--- a/tests/parser/GroupTests.cpp
+++ b/tests/parser/GroupTests.cpp
@@ -565,6 +565,15 @@ GPMAINT
   'PROD'  'NONE' /
 /
 
+TSTEP
+10 /
+
+GCONPROD
+   PROD        ORAT  0     0     1*    0     RATE  YES   1*    '   '     1*    1*    1*    1*    1*    /
+   FIELD       ORAT  71500 1*    1*    1*    RATE  YES   1*    '   '     1*    1*    1*    1*    1*    /
+/
+
+
 )";
     Opm::UnitSystem unitSystem = UnitSystem( UnitSystem::UnitType::UNIT_TYPE_METRIC );
     const auto sched = create_schedule(input);