diff --git a/src/editors/containers/ProblemEditor/data/OLXParser.js b/src/editors/containers/ProblemEditor/data/OLXParser.js
index 43817b91d9..46a578812d 100644
--- a/src/editors/containers/ProblemEditor/data/OLXParser.js
+++ b/src/editors/containers/ProblemEditor/data/OLXParser.js
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ export class OLXParser {
         const preservedFeedback = preservedAnswers[index].filter(answer =>
           Object.keys(answer).includes(`${option}hint`)
         );
-        let title = String(element['#text']);
+        let title = String(element['#text'] ?? '');
 
         if (isComplexAnswer && preservedAnswer) {
           title = this.richTextBuilder.build(preservedAnswer);
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ export class OLXParser {
     } else {
       const preservedAnswer = preservedAnswers[0].filter(answer => !Object.keys(answer).includes(`${option}hint`));
       const preservedFeedback = preservedAnswers[0].filter(answer => Object.keys(answer).includes(`${option}hint`));
-      let title = String(choice['#text']);
+      let title = String(choice['#text'] ?? '');
 
       if (isComplexAnswer && preservedAnswer) {
         title = this.richTextBuilder.build(preservedAnswer);
diff --git a/src/editors/containers/ProblemEditor/data/OLXParser.test.js b/src/editors/containers/ProblemEditor/data/OLXParser.test.js
index fceb9de2c4..993c66b77a 100644
--- a/src/editors/containers/ProblemEditor/data/OLXParser.test.js
+++ b/src/editors/containers/ProblemEditor/data/OLXParser.test.js
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import dropdownTemplate from '@src/editors/data/constants/basicProblemTemplates/dropdown';
 import { OLXParser } from './OLXParser';
 import {
   checkboxesOLXWithFeedbackAndHintsOLX,
@@ -134,6 +135,13 @@ describe('OLXParser', () => {
         expect(problemType).toEqual(ProblemTypeKeys.NUMERIC);
       });
     });
+    describe('given the blank dropdown template', () => {
+      const olxparser = new OLXParser(dropdownTemplate.olx);
+      const { answers } = olxparser.parseMultipleChoiceAnswers('optionresponse', 'optioninput', 'option');
+      it('should leave every answer empty, so the editor shows its placeholder', () => {
+        expect(answers.map(answer => answer.title)).toEqual(['', '', '']);
+      });
+    });
     describe('given dropdown olx with feedback and hints', () => {
       const problemType = dropdownOlxParser.getProblemType();
       it('should equal ProblemTypeKeys.DROPDOWN', () => {