diff --git a/source/core/gamecontrol.cpp b/source/core/gamecontrol.cpp
index 813a64f55..2650b9bf7 100644
--- a/source/core/gamecontrol.cpp
+++ b/source/core/gamecontrol.cpp
@@ -907,8 +907,9 @@ void CONFIG_ReadCombatMacros()
 		for (auto s : CombatMacros)
 		{
 			sc.MustGetToken(TK_StringConst);
-			if (strlen(*s) == 0)
-				*s = sc.String;
+			UCVarValue val;
+			val.String = sc.String;
+			s->SetGenericRepDefault(val, CVAR_String);
 		}
 	}
 	catch (const CRecoverableError &)