diff --git a/lib/ai_bot/artifact_update_strategies/diff.rb b/lib/ai_bot/artifact_update_strategies/diff.rb
index 4a0ff28d2..b75f78bca 100644
--- a/lib/ai_bot/artifact_update_strategies/diff.rb
+++ b/lib/ai_bot/artifact_update_strategies/diff.rb
@@ -95,9 +95,9 @@ def extract_search_replace_blocks(content)
           blocks = []
           remaining = content
 
-          pattern = /<<+\s*SEARCH\s*\n(.*?)\n=+\s*\n(.*?)\n>>+\s*REPLACE/m
+          pattern = /<<+\s*SEARCH\s*\n(.*?)\n==+\s*(\n(.*?))?\n>>+\s*REPLACE/m
           while remaining =~ pattern
-            blocks << { search: $1.strip, replace: $2.strip }
+            blocks << { search: $1.strip, replace: $3.to_s.strip }
             remaining = $'
           end
 
diff --git a/spec/lib/modules/ai_bot/artifact_update_strategies/diff_spec.rb b/spec/lib/modules/ai_bot/artifact_update_strategies/diff_spec.rb
index c2426ad43..689984cf7 100644
--- a/spec/lib/modules/ai_bot/artifact_update_strategies/diff_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/modules/ai_bot/artifact_update_strategies/diff_spec.rb
@@ -108,6 +108,34 @@
       expect(artifact.versions.last.css).to eq("body {\n  color: red;\n}")
     end
 
+    it "can handle removal with blank blocks" do
+      original_css = <<~CSS
+        body {
+          color: red;
+        }
+        .button {
+          color: blue;
+        }
+      CSS
+
+      artifact.update!(css: original_css)
+
+      response = <<~RESPONSE
+        [CSS]
+        <<<<<<< SEARCH
+        body {
+          color: red;
+        }
+        =======
+        >>>>>>> REPLACE
+        [/CSS]
+      RESPONSE
+
+      DiscourseAi::Completions::Llm.with_prepared_responses([response]) { strategy.apply }
+
+      expect(artifact.versions.last.css.strip).to eq(".button {\n  color: blue;\n}")
+    end
+
     it "tracks failed searches" do
       original_css = ".button { color: blue; }"
       artifact.update!(css: original_css)