diff --git a/ril/libril/ril_service.cpp b/ril/libril/ril_service.cpp
index 76670df8..f2b77145 100644
--- a/ril/libril/ril_service.cpp
+++ b/ril/libril/ril_service.cpp
@@ -486,9 +486,9 @@ void sendErrorResponse(RequestInfo *pRI, RIL_Errno err) {
  * request with error RIL_E_NO_MEMORY.
  * Returns true on success, and false on failure.
  */
-bool copyHidlStringToRil(char **dest, const hidl_string &src, RequestInfo *pRI) {
+bool copyHidlStringToRil(char **dest, const hidl_string &src, RequestInfo *pRI, bool allowEmpty) {
     size_t len = src.size();
-    if (len == 0) {
+    if (len == 0 && !allowEmpty) {
         *dest = NULL;
         return true;
     }
@@ -502,6 +502,10 @@ bool copyHidlStringToRil(char **dest, const hidl_string &src, RequestInfo *pRI)
     return true;
 }
 
+bool copyHidlStringToRil(char **dest, const hidl_string &src, RequestInfo *pRI) {
+    return copyHidlStringToRil(dest, src, pRI, false);
+}
+
 hidl_string convertCharPtrToHidlString(const char *ptr) {
     hidl_string ret;
     if (ptr != NULL) {
@@ -537,7 +541,7 @@ bool dispatchString(int serial, int slotId, int request, const char * str) {
     return true;
 }
 
-bool dispatchStrings(int serial, int slotId, int request, int countStrings, ...) {
+bool dispatchStrings(int serial, int slotId, int request, bool allowEmpty, int countStrings, ...) {
     RequestInfo *pRI = android::addRequestToList(serial, slotId, request);
     if (pRI == NULL) {
         return false;
@@ -554,7 +558,7 @@ bool dispatchStrings(int serial, int slotId, int request, int countStrings, ...)
     va_start(ap, countStrings);
     for (int i = 0; i < countStrings; i++) {
         const char* str = va_arg(ap, const char *);
-        if (!copyHidlStringToRil(&pStrings[i], hidl_string(str), pRI)) {
+        if (!copyHidlStringToRil(&pStrings[i], hidl_string(str), pRI, allowEmpty)) {
             va_end(ap);
             for (int j = 0; j < i; j++) {
                 memsetAndFreeStrings(1, pStrings[j]);
@@ -798,7 +802,7 @@ Return<void> RadioImpl::supplyIccPinForApp(int32_t serial, const hidl_string& pi
 #if VDBG
     RLOGD("supplyIccPinForApp: serial %d", serial);
 #endif
-    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_ENTER_SIM_PIN,
+    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_ENTER_SIM_PIN, true,
             2, pin.c_str(), aid.c_str());
     return Void();
 }
@@ -808,7 +812,7 @@ Return<void> RadioImpl::supplyIccPukForApp(int32_t serial, const hidl_string& pu
 #if VDBG
     RLOGD("supplyIccPukForApp: serial %d", serial);
 #endif
-    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_ENTER_SIM_PUK,
+    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_ENTER_SIM_PUK, true,
             3, puk.c_str(), pin.c_str(), aid.c_str());
     return Void();
 }
@@ -818,7 +822,7 @@ Return<void> RadioImpl::supplyIccPin2ForApp(int32_t serial, const hidl_string& p
 #if VDBG
     RLOGD("supplyIccPin2ForApp: serial %d", serial);
 #endif
-    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_ENTER_SIM_PIN2,
+    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_ENTER_SIM_PIN2, true,
             2, pin2.c_str(), aid.c_str());
     return Void();
 }
@@ -828,7 +832,7 @@ Return<void> RadioImpl::supplyIccPuk2ForApp(int32_t serial, const hidl_string& p
 #if VDBG
     RLOGD("supplyIccPuk2ForApp: serial %d", serial);
 #endif
-    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_ENTER_SIM_PUK2,
+    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_ENTER_SIM_PUK2, true,
             3, puk2.c_str(), pin2.c_str(), aid.c_str());
     return Void();
 }
@@ -838,7 +842,7 @@ Return<void> RadioImpl::changeIccPinForApp(int32_t serial, const hidl_string& ol
 #if VDBG
     RLOGD("changeIccPinForApp: serial %d", serial);
 #endif
-    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_CHANGE_SIM_PIN,
+    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_CHANGE_SIM_PIN, true,
             3, oldPin.c_str(), newPin.c_str(), aid.c_str());
     return Void();
 }
@@ -848,7 +852,7 @@ Return<void> RadioImpl::changeIccPin2ForApp(int32_t serial, const hidl_string& o
 #if VDBG
     RLOGD("changeIccPin2ForApp: serial %d", serial);
 #endif
-    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_CHANGE_SIM_PIN2,
+    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_CHANGE_SIM_PIN2, true,
             3, oldPin2.c_str(), newPin2.c_str(), aid.c_str());
     return Void();
 }
@@ -858,7 +862,7 @@ Return<void> RadioImpl::supplyNetworkDepersonalization(int32_t serial,
 #if VDBG
     RLOGD("supplyNetworkDepersonalization: serial %d", serial);
 #endif
-    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_ENTER_NETWORK_DEPERSONALIZATION,
+    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_ENTER_NETWORK_DEPERSONALIZATION, true,
             1, netPin.c_str());
     return Void();
 }
@@ -917,7 +921,7 @@ Return<void> RadioImpl::getImsiForApp(int32_t serial, const hidl_string& aid) {
 #if VDBG
     RLOGD("getImsiForApp: serial %d", serial);
 #endif
-    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_GET_IMSI,
+    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_GET_IMSI, false,
             1, aid.c_str());
     return Void();
 }
@@ -1028,7 +1032,7 @@ Return<void> RadioImpl::sendSms(int32_t serial, const GsmSmsMessage& message) {
 #if VDBG
     RLOGD("sendSms: serial %d", serial);
 #endif
-    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_SEND_SMS,
+    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_SEND_SMS, false,
             2, message.smscPdu.c_str(), message.pdu.c_str());
     return Void();
 }
@@ -1037,7 +1041,7 @@ Return<void> RadioImpl::sendSMSExpectMore(int32_t serial, const GsmSmsMessage& m
 #if VDBG
     RLOGD("sendSMSExpectMore: serial %d", serial);
 #endif
-    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_SEND_SMS_EXPECT_MORE,
+    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_SEND_SMS_EXPECT_MORE, false,
             2, message.smscPdu.c_str(), message.pdu.c_str());
     return Void();
 }
@@ -1071,7 +1075,7 @@ Return<void> RadioImpl::setupDataCall(int32_t serial, RadioTechnology radioTechn
     if (s_vendorFunctions->version >= 4 && s_vendorFunctions->version <= 14) {
         const hidl_string &protocol =
                 (isRoaming ? dataProfileInfo.roamingProtocol : dataProfileInfo.protocol);
-        dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_SETUP_DATA_CALL, 7,
+        dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_SETUP_DATA_CALL, true, 7,
             std::to_string((int) radioTechnology + 2).c_str(),
             std::to_string((int) dataProfileInfo.profileId).c_str(),
             dataProfileInfo.apn.c_str(),
@@ -1089,7 +1093,7 @@ Return<void> RadioImpl::setupDataCall(int32_t serial, RadioTechnology radioTechn
             }
             return Void();
         }
-        dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_SETUP_DATA_CALL, 15,
+        dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_SETUP_DATA_CALL, true, 15,
             std::to_string((int) radioTechnology + 2).c_str(),
             std::to_string((int) dataProfileInfo.profileId).c_str(),
             dataProfileInfo.apn.c_str(),
@@ -1248,7 +1252,7 @@ Return<void> RadioImpl::deactivateDataCall(int32_t serial,
 #if VDBG
     RLOGD("deactivateDataCall: serial %d", serial);
 #endif
-    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_DEACTIVATE_DATA_CALL,
+    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_DEACTIVATE_DATA_CALL, false,
             2, (std::to_string(cid)).c_str(), reasonRadioShutDown ? "1" : "0");
     return Void();
 }
@@ -1259,7 +1263,7 @@ Return<void> RadioImpl::getFacilityLockForApp(int32_t serial, const hidl_string&
 #if VDBG
     RLOGD("getFacilityLockForApp: serial %d", serial);
 #endif
-    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_QUERY_FACILITY_LOCK,
+    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_QUERY_FACILITY_LOCK, true,
             4, facility.c_str(), password.c_str(),
             (std::to_string(serviceClass)).c_str(), appId.c_str());
     return Void();
@@ -1271,7 +1275,7 @@ Return<void> RadioImpl::setFacilityLockForApp(int32_t serial, const hidl_string&
 #if VDBG
     RLOGD("setFacilityLockForApp: serial %d", serial);
 #endif
-    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_SET_FACILITY_LOCK,
+    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_SET_FACILITY_LOCK, true,
             5, facility.c_str(), lockState ? "1" : "0", password.c_str(),
             (std::to_string(serviceClass)).c_str(), appId.c_str() );
     return Void();
@@ -1283,7 +1287,7 @@ Return<void> RadioImpl::setBarringPassword(int32_t serial, const hidl_string& fa
 #if VDBG
     RLOGD("setBarringPassword: serial %d", serial);
 #endif
-    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_CHANGE_BARRING_PASSWORD,
+    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_CHANGE_BARRING_PASSWORD, true,
             3, facility.c_str(), oldPassword.c_str(), newPassword.c_str());
     return Void();
 }
@@ -1587,7 +1591,7 @@ Return<void> RadioImpl::sendBurstDtmf(int32_t serial, const hidl_string& dtmf, i
 #if VDBG
     RLOGD("sendBurstDtmf: serial %d", serial);
 #endif
-    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_CDMA_BURST_DTMF,
+    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_CDMA_BURST_DTMF, false,
             3, dtmf.c_str(), (std::to_string(on)).c_str(),
             (std::to_string(off)).c_str());
     return Void();
@@ -1856,7 +1860,7 @@ Return<void> RadioImpl::acknowledgeIncomingGsmSmsWithPdu(int32_t serial, bool su
 #if VDBG
     RLOGD("acknowledgeIncomingGsmSmsWithPdu: serial %d", serial);
 #endif
-    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_ACKNOWLEDGE_INCOMING_GSM_SMS_WITH_PDU,
+    dispatchStrings(serial, mSlotId, RIL_REQUEST_ACKNOWLEDGE_INCOMING_GSM_SMS_WITH_PDU, false,
             2, success ? "1" : "0", ackPdu.c_str());
     return Void();
 }
@@ -1908,19 +1912,8 @@ Return<void> RadioImpl::setInitialAttachApn(int32_t serial, const DataProfileInf
     if (s_vendorFunctions->version <= 14) {
         RIL_InitialAttachApn iaa = {};
 
-        if (dataProfileInfo.apn.size() == 0) {
-            iaa.apn = (char *) calloc(1, sizeof(char));
-            if (iaa.apn == NULL) {
-                RLOGE("Memory allocation failed for request %s",
-                        requestToString(pRI->pCI->requestNumber));
-                sendErrorResponse(pRI, RIL_E_NO_MEMORY);
-                return Void();
-            }
-            iaa.apn[0] = '\0';
-        } else {
-            if (!copyHidlStringToRil(&iaa.apn, dataProfileInfo.apn, pRI)) {
-                return Void();
-            }
+        if (!copyHidlStringToRil(&iaa.apn, dataProfileInfo.apn, pRI, true)) {
+            return Void();
         }
 
         const hidl_string &protocol =
@@ -1962,19 +1955,8 @@ Return<void> RadioImpl::setInitialAttachApn(int32_t serial, const DataProfileInf
     } else {
         RIL_InitialAttachApn_v15 iaa = {};
 
-        if (dataProfileInfo.apn.size() == 0) {
-            iaa.apn = (char *) calloc(1, sizeof(char));
-            if (iaa.apn == NULL) {
-                RLOGE("Memory allocation failed for request %s",
-                        requestToString(pRI->pCI->requestNumber));
-                sendErrorResponse(pRI, RIL_E_NO_MEMORY);
-                return Void();
-            }
-            iaa.apn[0] = '\0';
-        } else {
-            if (!copyHidlStringToRil(&iaa.apn, dataProfileInfo.apn, pRI)) {
-                return Void();
-            }
+        if (!copyHidlStringToRil(&iaa.apn, dataProfileInfo.apn, pRI, true)) {
+            return Void();
         }
 
         if (!copyHidlStringToRil(&iaa.protocol, dataProfileInfo.protocol, pRI)) {
@@ -2394,20 +2376,21 @@ Return<void> RadioImpl::setDataProfile(int32_t serial, const hidl_vec<DataProfil
         for (size_t i = 0; i < num; i++) {
             dataProfilePtrs[i] = &dataProfiles[i];
 
-            success = copyHidlStringToRil(&dataProfiles[i].apn, profiles[i].apn, pRI);
+            success = copyHidlStringToRil(&dataProfiles[i].apn, profiles[i].apn, pRI, true);
 
             const hidl_string &protocol =
                     (isRoaming ? profiles[i].roamingProtocol : profiles[i].protocol);
 
-            if (success && !copyHidlStringToRil(&dataProfiles[i].protocol, protocol, pRI)) {
+            if (success && !copyHidlStringToRil(&dataProfiles[i].protocol, protocol, pRI, true)) {
                 success = false;
             }
 
-            if (success && !copyHidlStringToRil(&dataProfiles[i].user, profiles[i].user, pRI)) {
+            if (success && !copyHidlStringToRil(&dataProfiles[i].user, profiles[i].user, pRI,
+                    true)) {
                 success = false;
             }
             if (success && !copyHidlStringToRil(&dataProfiles[i].password, profiles[i].password,
-                    pRI)) {
+                    pRI, true)) {
                 success = false;
             }
 
@@ -2457,25 +2440,26 @@ Return<void> RadioImpl::setDataProfile(int32_t serial, const hidl_vec<DataProfil
         for (size_t i = 0; i < num; i++) {
             dataProfilePtrs[i] = &dataProfiles[i];
 
-            success = copyHidlStringToRil(&dataProfiles[i].apn, profiles[i].apn, pRI);
+            success = copyHidlStringToRil(&dataProfiles[i].apn, profiles[i].apn, pRI, true);
             if (success && !copyHidlStringToRil(&dataProfiles[i].protocol, profiles[i].protocol,
                     pRI)) {
                 success = false;
             }
             if (success && !copyHidlStringToRil(&dataProfiles[i].roamingProtocol,
-                    profiles[i].roamingProtocol, pRI)) {
+                    profiles[i].roamingProtocol, pRI, true)) {
                 success = false;
             }
-            if (success && !copyHidlStringToRil(&dataProfiles[i].user, profiles[i].user, pRI)) {
+            if (success && !copyHidlStringToRil(&dataProfiles[i].user, profiles[i].user, pRI,
+                    true)) {
                 success = false;
             }
             if (success && !copyHidlStringToRil(&dataProfiles[i].password, profiles[i].password,
-                    pRI)) {
+                    pRI, true)) {
                 success = false;
             }
 
             if (success && !copyHidlStringToRil(&dataProfiles[i].mvnoMatchData,
-                    profiles[i].mvnoMatchData, pRI)) {
+                    profiles[i].mvnoMatchData, pRI, true)) {
                 success = false;
             }