Index: code/hud/hudparse.cpp
===================================================================
--- code/hud/hudparse.cpp	(revision 10974)
+++ code/hud/hudparse.cpp	(working copy)
@@ -1657,7 +1657,7 @@
 	int ship_name_max_w = 100;
 	int ship_integrity_offsets[2];
 	int ship_status_offsets[2];
-	char header_text[MAX_FILENAME_LEN] = "monitoring";
+	char header_text[MAX_FILENAME_LEN] = "";
 	char fname_top[MAX_FILENAME_LEN] = "escort1";
 	char fname_middle[MAX_FILENAME_LEN] = "escort2";
 	char fname_bottom[MAX_FILENAME_LEN] = "escort3";
@@ -1739,6 +1739,10 @@
 		stuff_int(&ship_name_max_w);
 	}
 
+	if (strlen(header_text) == 0) {
+		strcpy_s(header_text, XSTR("monitoring", 285));
+	}
+
 	hud_gauge->initBitmaps(fname_top, fname_middle, fname_bottom);
 	hud_gauge->initEntryHeight(entry_h);
 	hud_gauge->initEntryStaggerWidth(entry_stagger_w);