diff --git a/openformats/formats/xlsx_unstructured.py b/openformats/formats/xlsx_unstructured.py
index a7516bc6..f3a0f48b 100644
--- a/openformats/formats/xlsx_unstructured.py
+++ b/openformats/formats/xlsx_unstructured.py
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ def compile(self, template, stringset, **kwargs):
                         )
 
                         if not translation:
-                            t_string.decompose()
+                            t_string.string = ""
                             continue
                         t_string.string = translation
                 replace_string_to.attrs.pop("txid", None)
diff --git a/openformats/tests/formats/xlsx_unstructured/test_xlsx_unstructured.py b/openformats/tests/formats/xlsx_unstructured/test_xlsx_unstructured.py
index 364cd6ea..fbbc18f6 100644
--- a/openformats/tests/formats/xlsx_unstructured/test_xlsx_unstructured.py
+++ b/openformats/tests/formats/xlsx_unstructured/test_xlsx_unstructured.py
@@ -317,7 +317,8 @@ def test_strings_with_less_tx_tags(self):
         template, stringset = xlsx_handler.parse(compiled_file)
 
         self.assert_open_string(
-            stringset[6], {"string_hash": mock.ANY, "string": "no_tags"}
+            stringset[6],
+            {"string_hash": mock.ANY, "string": "<tx>no_tags</tx><tx></tx>"},
         )
 
     def test_extract_compile_hyperlink_formulas(self):