diff --git a/bin/tools/translate.py b/bin/tools/translate.py
index bedac786534..277486f180f 100644
--- a/bin/tools/translate.py
+++ b/bin/tools/translate.py
@@ -116,6 +116,9 @@ class TinyPoFile(object):
                 if line.startswith('#:'):
                     tmp_tnrs.append( line[2:].strip().split(':') )
                 line = self.lines.pop(0).strip()
+            while not line:
+                # allow empty lines between comments and msgid
+                line = self.lines.pop(0).strip()
             if not line.startswith('msgid'):
                 raise Exception("malformed file: bad line: %s" % line)
             source = unquote(line[6:])