tweak for AQCU-718 having issues with isEmptyVar
tweak for AQCU-718
having issues with isEmptyVar

mhines-usgs/repgen,lindsaycarr/repgen,mhines-usgs/repgen,zmoore-usgs/repgen,dpattermann-usgs/repgen,USGS-R/repgen,thongsav-usgs/repgen,thongsav-usgs/repgen,dpattermann-usgs/repgen,thongsav-usgs/repgen,lindsaycarr/repgen,USGS-R/repgen,mhines-usgs/repgen,zmoore-usgs/repgen,lindsaycarr/repgen,zmoore-usgs/repgen,USGS-R/repgen,dpattermann-usgs/repgen