diff --git a/lib/system.nim b/lib/system.nim
index d2c2512fc3d92..c13a798222837 100644
--- a/lib/system.nim
+++ b/lib/system.nim
@@ -2426,6 +2426,8 @@ when hasAlloc or defined(nimscript):
     ##   var a = "abc"
     ##   a.insert("zz", 0) # a <- "zzabc"
     ##   ```
+    if item.len == 0: # prevents self-assignment
+      return
     var xl = x.len
     setLen(x, xl+item.len)
     var j = xl-1
diff --git a/tests/system/tsystem_misc.nim b/tests/system/tsystem_misc.nim
index 7f5914725452a..c8e2b2a9df384 100644
--- a/tests/system/tsystem_misc.nim
+++ b/tests/system/tsystem_misc.nim
@@ -212,3 +212,10 @@ block:
   doAssert not compiles(echo p.rawProc.repr)
   doAssert not compiles(echo p.rawEnv.repr)
   doAssert not compiles(echo p.finished)
+
+proc bug23223 = # bug #23223
+  var stuff = "hello"
+  stuff.insert ""
+  doAssert stuff == "hello"
+
+bug23223()