diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/sql/sql-cli/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/sql/cli/CliRepl.java b/x-pack/plugin/sql/sql-cli/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/sql/cli/CliRepl.java
index f591ced77ec..956c62eaa1f 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/sql/sql-cli/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/sql/cli/CliRepl.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/sql/sql-cli/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/sql/cli/CliRepl.java
@@ -56,6 +56,11 @@ public class CliRepl {
                 multiLine.setLength(0);
             }
 
+            // Skip empty commands
+            if (line.isEmpty()) {
+                continue;
+            }
+
             // special case to handle exit
             if (isExit(line)) {
                 cliTerminal.line().em("Bye!").ln();
diff --git a/x-pack/plugin/sql/sql-cli/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/sql/cli/CliReplTests.java b/x-pack/plugin/sql/sql-cli/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/sql/cli/CliReplTests.java
index 2397418256a..31aa4749221 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugin/sql/sql-cli/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/sql/cli/CliReplTests.java
+++ b/x-pack/plugin/sql/sql-cli/src/test/java/org/elasticsearch/xpack/sql/cli/CliReplTests.java
@@ -38,6 +38,28 @@ public class CliReplTests extends ESTestCase {
         verifyNoMoreInteractions(mockCommand, mockSession);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Test that empty commands are skipped. This includes commands that are
+     * just new lines.
+     */
+    public void testEmptyNotSent() {
+        CliTerminal cliTerminal = new TestTerminal(
+                ";",
+                "",
+                "",
+                ";",
+                "exit;"
+        );
+
+        CliSession mockSession = mock(CliSession.class);
+        CliCommand mockCommand = mock(CliCommand.class);
+
+        CliRepl cli = new CliRepl(cliTerminal, mockSession, mockCommand);
+        cli.execute();
+
+        verify(mockCommand, times(1)).handle(cliTerminal, mockSession, "logo");
+        verifyNoMoreInteractions(mockSession, mockCommand);
+    }
 
     public void testFatalCliExceptionHandling() throws Exception {
         CliTerminal cliTerminal = new TestTerminal(