*** ../bash-4.2-patched/builtins/read.def	2012-03-11 17:52:44.000000000 -0400
--- builtins/read.def	2012-08-22 11:53:09.000000000 -0400
***************
*** 792,796 ****
  #endif
  
!   if (saw_escape)
      {
        t = dequote_string (input_string);
--- 847,851 ----
  #endif
  
!   if (saw_escape && input_string && *input_string)
      {
        t = dequote_string (input_string);