diff --git a/core/src/ldml/ldml_markers.cpp b/core/src/ldml/ldml_markers.cpp
index 6840d47b2c5..13c711d9d06 100644
--- a/core/src/ldml/ldml_markers.cpp
+++ b/core/src/ldml/ldml_markers.cpp
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ bool normalize_nfd(std::u16string &str) {
 void add_back_markers(std::u32string &str, const std::u32string &src, marker_map &map, marker_encoding encoding) {
   if (map.empty()) {
     // quick check, nothing to do if no markers
+    str = src;
     return;
   }
   // need to reconstitute.