diff --git a/source/glest_game/game/console.cpp b/source/glest_game/game/console.cpp
index 2cdd1f402..7bb5e3a21 100644
--- a/source/glest_game/game/console.cpp
+++ b/source/glest_game/game/console.cpp
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ Console::Console() {
 	yPos=20;
 	lineHeight=20;
 	font=CoreData::getInstance().getConsoleFont();
+	stringToHighlight="";
 }
 
 void Console::addStdMessage(const string &s) {
diff --git a/source/glest_game/graphics/renderer.cpp b/source/glest_game/graphics/renderer.cpp
index 889074525..2725dba98 100644
--- a/source/glest_game/graphics/renderer.cpp
+++ b/source/glest_game/graphics/renderer.cpp
@@ -909,7 +909,7 @@ void Renderer::renderConsoleLine(int lineIndex, int xPosition, int yPosition, in
 		fontColor = defaultFontColor;
 	}
 
-	if(lineInfo->text.find(stringToHightlight)!=string::npos){
+	if(stringToHightlight!="" && lineInfo->text.find(stringToHightlight)!=string::npos){
 		fontColor=Vec4f(1.f, 0.5f, 0.5f, 0.0f);
 	}
 	renderTextShadow(