diff --git a/include/CLI/StringTools.hpp b/include/CLI/StringTools.hpp
index 4a035b323..87af9d937 100644
--- a/include/CLI/StringTools.hpp
+++ b/include/CLI/StringTools.hpp
@@ -220,9 +220,6 @@ CLI11_INLINE std::vector<std::string> split_up(std::string str, char delimiter =
 /// the return value is the offset+1 which is required by the find_and_modify function.
 CLI11_INLINE std::size_t escape_detect(std::string &str, std::size_t offset);
 
-/// Add quotes if the string contains spaces
-CLI11_INLINE std::string &add_quotes_if_needed(std::string &str);
-
 /// get the value of an environmental variable or empty string if empty
 CLI11_INLINE std::string get_environment_value(const std::string &env_name);
 }  // namespace detail
diff --git a/include/CLI/impl/StringTools_inl.hpp b/include/CLI/impl/StringTools_inl.hpp
index fd3dcc2ff..e5761c238 100644
--- a/include/CLI/impl/StringTools_inl.hpp
+++ b/include/CLI/impl/StringTools_inl.hpp
@@ -244,17 +244,6 @@ CLI11_INLINE std::size_t escape_detect(std::string &str, std::size_t offset) {
     return offset + 1;
 }
 
-CLI11_INLINE std::string &add_quotes_if_needed(std::string &str) {
-    if((str.front() != '"' && str.front() != '\'') || str.front() != str.back()) {
-        char quote = str.find('"') < str.find('\'') ? '\'' : '"';
-        if(str.find(' ') != std::string::npos) {
-            str.insert(0, 1, quote);
-            str.append(1, quote);
-        }
-    }
-    return str;
-}
-
 std::string get_environment_value(const std::string &env_name) {
     char *buffer = nullptr;
     std::string ename_string;
diff --git a/include/CLI/impl/Validators_inl.hpp b/include/CLI/impl/Validators_inl.hpp
index a2295ecdf..1332e55ef 100644
--- a/include/CLI/impl/Validators_inl.hpp
+++ b/include/CLI/impl/Validators_inl.hpp
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ CLI11_INLINE path_type check_path(const char *file) noexcept {
     switch(stat.type()) {
     case std::filesystem::file_type::none:  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
     case std::filesystem::file_type::not_found:
-        return path_type::nonexistent;
+        return path_type::nonexistent;  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
     case std::filesystem::file_type::directory:
         return path_type::directory;
     case std::filesystem::file_type::symlink:
diff --git a/tests/AppTest.cpp b/tests/AppTest.cpp
index 386418d49..8e5d57f27 100644
--- a/tests/AppTest.cpp
+++ b/tests/AppTest.cpp
@@ -1101,6 +1101,42 @@ TEST_CASE_METHOD(TApp, "emptyVectorReturn", "[app]") {
     CHECK_FALSE(strs3.empty());
 }
 
+TEST_CASE_METHOD(TApp, "emptyVectorReturnReduce", "[app]") {
+
+    std::vector<std::string> strs;
+    std::vector<std::string> strs2;
+    std::vector<std::string> strs3;
+    auto *opt1 = app.add_option("--str", strs)->required()->expected(0, 2);
+    app.add_option("--str3", strs3)->expected(1, 3);
+    app.add_option("--str2", strs2)->expected(1, 1)->take_first();
+    args = {"--str"};
+
+    CHECK_NOTHROW(run());
+    CHECK(std::vector<std::string>({""}) == strs);
+    args = {"--str", "one", "two"};
+
+    run();
+
+    CHECK(std::vector<std::string>({"one", "two"}) == strs);
+
+    args = {"--str", "{}", "--str2", "{}", "test"};
+
+    run();
+
+    CHECK(strs.empty());
+    CHECK(std::vector<std::string>{"{}"} == strs2);
+    opt1->default_str("{}");
+    args = {"--str"};
+
+    CHECK_NOTHROW(run());
+    CHECK(strs.empty());
+    opt1->required(false);
+    args = {"--str3", "{}"};
+
+    CHECK_NOTHROW(run());
+    CHECK_FALSE(strs3.empty());
+}
+
 TEST_CASE_METHOD(TApp, "RequiredOptsDoubleShort", "[app]") {
 
     std::vector<std::string> strs;