diff --git a/lib/handlebars/vm.js b/lib/handlebars/vm.js
index 17c03109..b8a33b81 100644
--- a/lib/handlebars/vm.js
+++ b/lib/handlebars/vm.js
@@ -608,7 +608,7 @@ Handlebars.VM = {
       return fn(context, helpers, partials);
     };
   },
-  noop: function() {},
+  noop: function() { return ""; },
   compile: function(string) {
     var ast = Handlebars.parse(string);
     var environment = new Handlebars.Compiler().compile(ast);