diff --git a/lib/roo/excelx/cell/number.rb b/lib/roo/excelx/cell/number.rb
index 5cdec5eb..4eaa22d9 100644
--- a/lib/roo/excelx/cell/number.rb
+++ b/lib/roo/excelx/cell/number.rb
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ def initialize(value, formula, excelx_type, style, link, coordinate)
         end
 
         def create_numeric(number)
-          return number if Excelx::ERROR_VALUES.include?(number)
+          return number if Excelx::ERROR_VALUES.include?(number) || number == ''
           case @format
           when /%/
             Float(number)