diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 339041b80c5..dcbbb1e0663 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -2,6 +2,10 @@ PHP                                                                        NEWS
 |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 ?? ??? ????, PHP 8.3.11
 
+- Curl:
+  . Fixed case when curl_error returns an empty string.
+    (David Carlier)
+
 - Soap:
   . Fixed bug #55639 (Digest autentication dont work). (nielsdos)
 
diff --git a/ext/curl/interface.c b/ext/curl/interface.c
index 44284b7a296..80cc87c2d2d 100644
--- a/ext/curl/interface.c
+++ b/ext/curl/interface.c
@@ -2869,7 +2869,11 @@ PHP_FUNCTION(curl_error)
 
 	if (ch->err.no) {
 		ch->err.str[CURL_ERROR_SIZE] = 0;
-		RETURN_STRING(ch->err.str);
+		if (strlen(ch->err.str) > 0) {
+			RETURN_STRING(ch->err.str);
+		} else {
+			RETURN_STRING(curl_easy_strerror(ch->err.no));
+		}
 	} else {
 		RETURN_EMPTY_STRING();
 	}