diff --git a/novelwriter/text/counting.py b/novelwriter/text/counting.py
index 59974ee5..f63ee2a6 100644
--- a/novelwriter/text/counting.py
+++ b/novelwriter/text/counting.py
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ def preProcessText(text: str, keepHeaders: bool = True) -> list[str]:
                 continue
             if line[0] == ">":
                 line = line.lstrip(">").lstrip(" ")
+        if line:  # Above check can return empty line (Issue #1816)
             if line[-1] == "<":
                 line = line.rstrip("<").rstrip(" ")
             if "[" in line:
diff --git a/tests/test_text/test_core_counting.py b/tests/test_text/test_core_counting.py
index bab0596e..0c6bd448 100644
--- a/tests/test_text/test_core_counting.py
+++ b/tests/test_text/test_core_counting.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ from novelwriter.text.counting import bodyTextCounter, preProcessText, standardC
 def testTextCounting_preProcessText():
     """Test the text preprocessor for counters."""
     # Not Text
-    assert preProcessText(None) == []
+    assert preProcessText(None) == []  # type: ignore
 
     # No Text
     assert preProcessText("") == []
@@ -81,6 +81,10 @@ def testTextCounting_standardCounter():
     assert standardCounter(None) == (0, 0, 0)  # type: ignore
     assert standardCounter(1234) == (0, 0, 0)  # type: ignore
 
+    # Test Corner Cases, Bug #1816
+    assert standardCounter("> ") == (0, 0, 0)
+    assert standardCounter(" <") == (0, 0, 0)
+
     # General Text
     cC, wC, pC = standardCounter((
         "#! Title\n\n"
@@ -182,7 +186,7 @@ def testTextCounting_standardCounter():
 def testTextCounting_bodyTextCounter():
     """Test the body text counter."""
     # Not Text
-    assert bodyTextCounter(None) == (0, 0, 0)
+    assert bodyTextCounter(None) == (0, 0, 0)  # type: ignore
 
     # General Text
     wC, cC, sC = bodyTextCounter((