-# Replace default '\0' with '\n' and sort entries
-tr '\0' '\n' < ${ENV_OBJ_FILE_COPY} | sort --field-separator== -k1,1 --stable
+# Replace default '\0' with '\n' , remove blank lines and sort entries
+tr '\0' '\n' < ${ENV_OBJ_FILE_COPY} | sed -e '/^\s*$/d' | sort --field-separator== -k1,1 --stable