diff --git a/src/main/java/forge/card/cardfactory/CardFactoryUtil.java b/src/main/java/forge/card/cardfactory/CardFactoryUtil.java
index c385be15a9e..8dccd2b289f 100644
--- a/src/main/java/forge/card/cardfactory/CardFactoryUtil.java
+++ b/src/main/java/forge/card/cardfactory/CardFactoryUtil.java
@@ -1108,9 +1108,8 @@ public class CardFactoryUtil {
      */
     public static int xCount(final Card c, final String expression) {
         int n = 0;
-        
-        if (StringUtils.isNumeric(expression))
-            return Integer.parseInt(expression);
+        if (StringUtils.isBlank(expression)) return 0;
+        if (StringUtils.isNumeric(expression)) return Integer.parseInt(expression);
 
         final Player cardController = c.getController();
         final Player oppController = cardController.getOpponent();