diff --git a/xorriso/base_obj.c b/xorriso/base_obj.c
index 3a00b9db..894ec8b0 100644
--- a/xorriso/base_obj.c
+++ b/xorriso/base_obj.c
@@ -274,6 +274,7 @@ int Xorriso_new(struct XorrisO ** xorriso,char *progname, int flag)
 
  m->boot_efi_default= 0;
  m->system_area_disk_path[0]= 0;
+ m->system_area_clear_loaded= 0;
  m->system_area_options= 0;
  m->patch_system_area= 0;
  m->partition_offset= 0;
diff --git a/xorriso/drive_mgt.c b/xorriso/drive_mgt.c
index 07d2e9e8..84453b1d 100644
--- a/xorriso/drive_mgt.c
+++ b/xorriso/drive_mgt.c
@@ -471,6 +471,8 @@ int Xorriso_aquire_drive(struct XorrisO *xorriso, char *adr, char *show_adr,
  Xorriso_destroy_hln_array(xorriso, 0);
  Xorriso_destroy_di_array(xorriso, 0);
  xorriso->boot_count= 0;
+ xorriso->system_area_clear_loaded=  
+                    (strcmp(xorriso->system_area_disk_path, "/dev/zero") == 0);
 
  /* check for invalid state */
  if(state != BURN_DISC_BLANK && state != BURN_DISC_APPENDABLE &&
diff --git a/xorriso/iso_img.c b/xorriso/iso_img.c
index 46b016ee..da9a62c6 100644
--- a/xorriso/iso_img.c
+++ b/xorriso/iso_img.c
@@ -113,6 +113,8 @@ int Xorriso_create_empty_iso(struct XorrisO *xorriso, int flag)
  Xorriso_update_volid(xorriso, 0);
  xorriso->volset_change_pending= 0;
  xorriso->boot_count= 0;
+ xorriso->system_area_clear_loaded=
+                    (strcmp(xorriso->system_area_disk_path, "/dev/zero") == 0);
  xorriso->no_volset_present= 0;
  return(1);
 }
diff --git a/xorriso/opts_a_c.c b/xorriso/opts_a_c.c
index f0ae97c5..44e8ad13 100644
--- a/xorriso/opts_a_c.c
+++ b/xorriso/opts_a_c.c
@@ -1006,6 +1006,8 @@ treatment_patch:;
    if(ret <= 0)
      goto ex;
    xorriso->system_area_options&= ~0x4000;
+   if(strcmp(treatpt + 12, "/dev/zero") == 0)
+     xorriso->system_area_clear_loaded= 1;
 
  } else if(strncmp(treatpt, "partition_table=", 16)==0) {
    if(strcmp(treatpt + 16, "off") == 0) {
diff --git a/xorriso/write_run.c b/xorriso/write_run.c
index 1b1b9aff..acf0d3d4 100644
--- a/xorriso/write_run.c
+++ b/xorriso/write_run.c
@@ -440,7 +440,10 @@ int Xorriso_set_system_area(struct XorrisO *xorriso, struct burn_drive *drive,
  Xorriso_alloc_meM(buf, char, 32768);
  memset(buf, 0, 32768);
  system_area_options= xorriso->system_area_options;
- sa_loaded= iso_image_get_system_area(img, buf, &options, 0);
+ if(xorriso->system_area_clear_loaded)
+   sa_loaded= 0;
+ else
+   sa_loaded= iso_image_get_system_area(img, buf, &options, 0);
  if(sa_loaded < 0) {
    Xorriso_process_msg_queues(xorriso,0);
    Xorriso_report_iso_error(xorriso, "", sa_loaded,
diff --git a/xorriso/xorriso_private.h b/xorriso/xorriso_private.h
index 726fff35..3b384990 100644
--- a/xorriso/xorriso_private.h
+++ b/xorriso/xorriso_private.h
@@ -411,6 +411,7 @@ struct XorrisO { /* the global context of xorriso */
                           1= appy --efi-boot parameters when attaching to img */
 
  char system_area_disk_path[SfileadrL];
+ int system_area_clear_loaded;
  int system_area_options;             /* bit0= "GRUB protective msdos label"
                                                (a simple partition table)
                                          bit1= isohybrid boot image pointer
diff --git a/xorriso/xorriso_timestamp.h b/xorriso/xorriso_timestamp.h
index f9a4d178..598a734e 100644
--- a/xorriso/xorriso_timestamp.h
+++ b/xorriso/xorriso_timestamp.h
@@ -1 +1 @@
-#define Xorriso_timestamP "2015.12.22.133736"
+#define Xorriso_timestamP "2015.12.23.112013"