Index: branches/5.2.x/core/kernel/utility/formatters/formatter.php
===================================================================
--- branches/5.2.x/core/kernel/utility/formatters/formatter.php
+++ branches/5.2.x/core/kernel/utility/formatters/formatter.php
@@ -209,11 +209,12 @@
 	 */
 	public function Parse($value, $field_name, &$object)
 	{
+		$options = $object->GetFieldOptions($field_name);
+
 		if ($value == '') {
-			return NULL;
+			return $options['type'] == 'string' ? $value : null;
 		}
 
-		$options = $object->GetFieldOptions($field_name);
 		$tc_value = $this->TypeCast($value, $options);
 
 		if ($tc_value === false) {