diff --git a/src/uu/split/src/split.rs b/src/uu/split/src/split.rs
index 904ed9095..bba5cea39 100644
--- a/src/uu/split/src/split.rs
+++ b/src/uu/split/src/split.rs
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ impl Splitter for ByteSplitter {
             self.bytes_to_write = self.saved_bytes_to_write;
             control.request_new_file = true;
             self.require_whole_line = false;
-            return line[0..0].to_owned();
+            return "".to_owned();
         }
         self.bytes_to_write -= n;
         if n == 0 {