diff --git a/scripts/update_po_files.py b/scripts/update_po_files.py
index 4f5e775..96b0b2b 100755
--- a/scripts/update_po_files.py
+++ b/scripts/update_po_files.py
@@ -170,12 +170,10 @@ def process_language_file(hdf_file, po_dir, textDomain):
             for po_unit in po_data.units:
                 po_unit.settarget(po_unit.getsource())
             po_data.removeduplicates()
-            po_data.removeblanks()
             po_data.savefile(po_file)
         else:
             po_content = translate.storage.po.pofile.parsefile(po_file)
             po_content.removeduplicates()
-            po_content.removeblanks()
             po_content.savefile(po_file)
         revert_if_unchanged(po_file)
         ## make it writeable for pootle