diff --git a/config/string_list.go b/config/string_list.go
index a175b821d..da45df736 100644
--- a/config/string_list.go
+++ b/config/string_list.go
@@ -69,11 +69,11 @@ func (sl StringList) Length() int {
 func (sl StringList) Slice() []string {
 	parts := strings.Split(string(sl), stringListDelim)
 
+	// split on an empty StringList will have a length of 2, since there is
+	// always at least one deliminator
 	switch len(parts) {
-	case 0, 1:
+	case 0, 1, 2:
 		return []string{}
-	case 2:
-		return []string{""}
 	}
 
 	// strip empty elements generated by leading and trailing delimiters