diff --git a/collects/mred/private/wx/gtk/filedialog.rkt b/collects/mred/private/wx/gtk/filedialog.rkt
index 1eda71d425..f47932a7ab 100644
--- a/collects/mred/private/wx/gtk/filedialog.rkt
+++ b/collects/mred/private/wx/gtk/filedialog.rkt
@@ -91,7 +91,9 @@
          (gtk_file_filter_set_name ff (if (equal? glob "*")
                                           name
                                           (format "~a (~a)" name glob)))
-         (gtk_file_filter_add_pattern ff glob)
+         (for ([glob (in-list (regexp-split #rx" *; *" glob))]
+               #:when ((string-length glob) . > . 0))
+           (gtk_file_filter_add_pattern ff glob))
          (gtk_file_chooser_add_filter dlg ff))]))
   (define ans (and (eq? 'accept (show-dialog dlg))
                    (if (eq? type 'multi)