--- a/sc/source/filter/excel/xestream.cxx
+++ b/sc/source/filter/excel/xestream.cxx
@@ -863,8 +863,10 @@ OUString XclXmlUtils::ToOUString( const ScfUInt16Vec& rBuf, sal_Int32 nStart, sa
 {
     if( nLength == -1 )
         nLength = rBuf.size();
-
-    return OUString( &rBuf[nStart], nLength );
+       if (!rBuf.empty())
+           return OUString( &rBuf[nStart], nLength );
+       else
+               return OUString();
 }

 OUString XclXmlUtils::ToOUString( const String& s )