diff --git a/pkg/base-dev/lib/strandio.hoon b/pkg/base-dev/lib/strandio.hoon
index 3db48a4882..a83d5ae0e0 100644
--- a/pkg/base-dev/lib/strandio.hoon
+++ b/pkg/base-dev/lib/strandio.hoon
@@ -430,8 +430,10 @@
   =/  m  (strand ,cord)
   ^-  form:m
   ?>  ?=(%finished -.client-response)
-  ?>  ?=(^ full-file.client-response)
-  (pure:m q.data.u.full-file.client-response)
+  %-  pure:m
+  ?~  full-file.client-response  ''
+  q.data.u.full-file.client-response
+
 ::
 ++  fetch-cord
   |=  url=tape