diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/src/Metamaps.Import.js.erb b/app/assets/javascripts/src/Metamaps.Import.js.erb
index d17077ae..14612247 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/src/Metamaps.Import.js.erb
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/src/Metamaps.Import.js.erb
@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@ Metamaps.Import = {
       var text = e.originalEvent.clipboardData.getData('text/plain');
       var parsed = self.parseTabbedString(text);
 
-      if (confirm("Are you sure you want to create " + parsed.length + " new topics?")) {
+      if (parsed.length > 0 &&
+        confirm("Are you sure you want to create " + parsed.length +
+                " new topics?")) {
         self.importTopics(parsed);
       }//if
     });
@@ -76,7 +78,8 @@ Metamaps.Import = {
     return results;
   },
 
-  createTopicWithParameters: function(name, metacode_name, permission, desc, link, xloc, yloc) {
+  createTopicWithParameters: function(name, metacode_name, permission, desc,
+                                      link, xloc, yloc) {
     var self = Metamaps.Topic;
 
     var metacode = Metamaps.Metacodes.where({name: metacode_name})[0] || null;
@@ -99,6 +102,7 @@ Metamaps.Import = {
     });
     Metamaps.Mappings.add(mapping);
 
-    self.renderTopic(mapping, topic, true, true); // this function also includes the creation of the topic in the database
+    // this function also includes the creation of the topic in the database
+    self.renderTopic(mapping, topic, true, true);
   },
 };