diff --git a/scripts/local_testnet/kill_processes.sh b/scripts/local_testnet/kill_processes.sh
index 4f52a5f256..be6b7f3d66 100755
--- a/scripts/local_testnet/kill_processes.sh
+++ b/scripts/local_testnet/kill_processes.sh
@@ -8,6 +8,9 @@ set -Eeuo pipefail
 if [ -f "$1" ]; then
   while read pid
     do
+      # handle the case of blank lines
+      [[ -n "$pid" ]] || continue
+
       echo killing $pid
       kill $pid
     done < $1