diff --git a/ocr-service/ensure_blla_model.py b/ocr-service/ensure_blla_model.py
index 0328c0cb..399e8a80 100644
--- a/ocr-service/ensure_blla_model.py
+++ b/ocr-service/ensure_blla_model.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 BLLA_MODEL_PATH = os.environ.get("BLLA_MODEL_PATH", "/app/models/blla.mlmodel")
 # DOI for "General segmentation model for print and handwriting" — ketos 7 compatible.
 BLLA_MODEL_DOI = "10.5281/zenodo.14602569"
-HTRMOPO_DIR = os.environ.get("HTRMOPO_DIR", "/app/models/.htrmopo")
+HTRMOPO_DIR = os.environ.get("HTRMOPO_DIR") or "/app/models/.htrmopo"
 
 
 def _model_is_loadable(path: str) -> bool:
diff --git a/ocr-service/test_ensure_blla_model.py b/ocr-service/test_ensure_blla_model.py
index cb5c6f7d..c3c65bd0 100644
--- a/ocr-service/test_ensure_blla_model.py
+++ b/ocr-service/test_ensure_blla_model.py
@@ -29,6 +29,15 @@ def test_htrmopo_dir_default_is_fixed_path():
     assert result == "/app/models/.htrmopo"
 
 
+def test_htrmopo_dir_falls_back_to_default_when_set_to_empty_string():
+    """HTRMOPO_DIR='' must not produce an empty path — get() returns '' for blank env vars."""
+    with patch.dict(os.environ, {"HTRMOPO_DIR": ""}):
+        importlib.reload(ensure_blla_model)
+        result = ensure_blla_model.HTRMOPO_DIR
+    importlib.reload(ensure_blla_model)
+    assert result != ""
+
+
 # ─── Model already loadable ───────────────────────────────────────────────────