diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index a16fd0e0..e0e90ed1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
   - `icon_screen_progress(iconname, text, progress, lifetime, screen_time, default_font, r, g, b)`
 - Added `replace_time_date_to:` and `replace_time_date_from:` which allow replacing the system date & time text (anything!)
 - Added `bitmap_small` and `rainbow_bitmap_small` screen.
+- Added a pseudo-icon `blank` - empty icon, no display.
   
 ### EspHoMaTriX 2023.9.0
 - Added the ability to display graph as defined in the YAML file
@@ -770,7 +771,7 @@ Numerous features are accessible with services from home assistant and lambdas t
 - **r, g, b**: Color components for red, green, and blue 0..255
 - **size**: The size of the rindicator or alarm, 1-3
 - **percent**: values from 0..100
-- **icon_name**: the id of the icon to show, as defined in the YAML file, it is also possible to set the arbitrary [screen identifier](#screen_id), for example `icon_name|screen_id`
+- **icon_name**: the id of the icon to show, as defined in the YAML file (or pseudo-icon `blank` - empty icon), it is also possible to set the arbitrary [screen identifier](#screen_id), for example `icon_name|screen_id`
 - **text**: a text message to display
 - **lifetime**: how long does this screen stay in the queue (minutes)
 - **screen_time**: how long is this screen display in the loop (seconds). For short text without scrolling it is shown the defined time, longer text is scrolled at least `scroll_count` times.
diff --git a/components/ehmtxv2/EHMTX.cpp b/components/ehmtxv2/EHMTX.cpp
index 0745f432..8147ee4d 100644
--- a/components/ehmtxv2/EHMTX.cpp
+++ b/components/ehmtxv2/EHMTX.cpp
@@ -341,6 +341,11 @@ namespace esphome
 
   uint8_t EHMTX::find_icon(std::string name)
   {
+    if (name == "blank")
+    {
+      return BLANKICON;
+    }
+
     for (uint8_t i = 0; i < this->icon_count; i++)
     {
       if (strcmp(this->icons[i]->name.c_str(), name.c_str()) == 0)
@@ -1011,9 +1016,9 @@ namespace esphome
   {
     uint8_t icon = this->find_icon(iconname.c_str());
 
-    if (icon >= this->icon_count)
+    if (icon == MAXICONS)
     {
-      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "icon %d not found => default: 0", icon);
+      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "icon %d/%s not found => default: 0", icon, iconname.c_str());
       icon = 0;
       for (auto *t : on_icon_error_triggers_)
       {
@@ -1049,9 +1054,9 @@ namespace esphome
 
     uint8_t icon = this->find_icon(ic.c_str());
 
-    if (icon >= this->icon_count)
+    if (icon == MAXICONS)
     {
-      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "icon %d not found => default: 0", icon);
+      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "icon %d/%s not found => default: 0", icon, ic.c_str());
       icon = 0;
       for (auto *t : on_icon_error_triggers_)
       {
@@ -1083,9 +1088,9 @@ namespace esphome
 
     uint8_t icon = this->find_icon(ic.c_str());
 
-    if (icon >= this->icon_count)
+    if (icon == MAXICONS)
     {
-      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "icon %d not found => default: 0", icon);
+      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "icon %d/%s not found => default: 0", icon, ic.c_str());
       icon = 0;
       for (auto *t : on_icon_error_triggers_)
       {
@@ -1129,9 +1134,9 @@ namespace esphome
 
     uint8_t icon = this->find_icon(ic.c_str());
 
-    if (icon >= this->icon_count)
+    if (icon == MAXICONS)
     {
-      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "icon %d not found => default: 0", icon);
+      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "icon %d/%s not found => default: 0", icon, ic.c_str());
       icon = 0;
       for (auto *t : on_icon_error_triggers_)
       {
@@ -1162,9 +1167,9 @@ namespace esphome
 
     uint8_t icon = this->find_icon(ic.c_str());
 
-    if (icon >= this->icon_count)
+    if (icon == MAXICONS)
     {
-      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "icon %d not found => default: 0", icon);
+      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "icon %d/%s not found => default: 0", icon, ic.c_str());
       icon = 0;
       for (auto *t : on_icon_error_triggers_)
       {
@@ -1195,9 +1200,9 @@ namespace esphome
 
     uint8_t icon = this->find_icon(ic.c_str());
 
-    if (icon >= this->icon_count)
+    if (icon == MAXICONS)
     {
-      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "icon %d not found => default: 0", icon);
+      ESP_LOGW(TAG, "icon %d/%s not found => default: 0", icon, ic.c_str());
       icon = 0;
       for (auto *t : on_icon_error_triggers_)
       {
@@ -1323,7 +1328,7 @@ namespace esphome
   {
     uint8_t icon = this->find_icon(iconname.c_str());
 
-    if (icon >= this->icon_count)
+    if (icon == MAXICONS)
     {
       ESP_LOGW(TAG, "full screen: icon %d not found => default: 0", icon);
       for (auto *t : on_icon_error_triggers_)
@@ -1503,7 +1508,7 @@ namespace esphome
   {
     uint8_t icon = this->find_icon(iconname.c_str());
 
-    if (icon >= this->icon_count)
+    if (icon == MAXICONS)
     {
       ESP_LOGW(TAG, "graph screen with icon: icon %d not found => default: 0", icon);
       for (auto *t : on_icon_error_triggers_)
diff --git a/components/ehmtxv2/EHMTX.h b/components/ehmtxv2/EHMTX.h
index e64e93f0..005d2ede 100644
--- a/components/ehmtxv2/EHMTX.h
+++ b/components/ehmtxv2/EHMTX.h
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ const uint8_t D_LIFETIME = 5;
 const uint8_t D_SCREEN_TIME = 10;
 
 const uint8_t MAXICONS = 90;
+const uint8_t BLANKICON = MAXICONS + 1;
 const uint8_t TEXTSCROLLSTART = 8;
 const uint8_t TEXTSTARTOFFSET = (32 - 8);
 
diff --git a/components/ehmtxv2/EHMTX_queue.cpp b/components/ehmtxv2/EHMTX_queue.cpp
index 9e4ff6aa..b4858311 100644
--- a/components/ehmtxv2/EHMTX_queue.cpp
+++ b/components/ehmtxv2/EHMTX_queue.cpp
@@ -233,10 +233,13 @@ namespace esphome
       this->config_->last_rainbow_time = millis();
     }
 
-    if (millis() - this->config_->last_anim_time >= this->config_->icons[this->icon]->frame_duration)
+    if (this->icon < this->config_->icon_count)
     {
-      this->config_->icons[this->icon]->next_frame();
-      this->config_->last_anim_time = millis();
+      if (millis() - this->config_->last_anim_time >= this->config_->icons[this->icon]->frame_duration)
+      {
+        this->config_->icons[this->icon]->next_frame();
+        this->config_->last_anim_time = millis();
+      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -283,7 +286,10 @@ namespace esphome
         else
         {
           this->config_->display->graph(8, 0, this->config_->graph);
-          this->config_->display->image(0, 0, this->config_->icons[this->icon]);
+          if (this->icon != BLANKICON)
+          {
+            this->config_->display->image(0, 0, this->config_->icons[this->icon]);
+          }
         }
         break;
 #endif
@@ -418,7 +424,10 @@ namespace esphome
                                                this->config_->clock->now());
             }
           }
-          this->config_->display->image(0, 0, this->config_->icons[this->icon]);
+          if (this->icon != BLANKICON)
+          {
+            this->config_->display->image(0, 0, this->config_->icons[this->icon]);
+          }
           this->config_->draw_day_of_week(true);
 
           if (this->icon_name.find("day") != std::string::npos || this->icon_name.find("weekday") != std::string::npos)
@@ -548,7 +557,10 @@ namespace esphome
         if (this->mode == MODE_ICON_PROGRESS)
         {
           this->config_->display->line(8, 0, 8, 7, esphome::display::COLOR_OFF);
-          this->config_->display->image(0, 0, this->config_->icons[this->icon]);
+          if (this->icon != BLANKICON)
+          {
+            this->config_->display->image(0, 0, this->config_->icons[this->icon]);
+          }
 
           if (this->progress != 0)
           {
@@ -568,13 +580,19 @@ namespace esphome
         {
           if (this->config_->display_gauge)
           {
-            this->config_->display->image(2, 0, this->config_->icons[this->icon]);
+            if (this->icon != BLANKICON)
+            {
+              this->config_->display->image(2, 0, this->config_->icons[this->icon]);
+            }
             this->config_->display->line(10, 0, 10, 7, esphome::display::COLOR_OFF);
           }
           else
           {
             this->config_->display->line(8, 0, 8, 7, esphome::display::COLOR_OFF);
-            this->config_->display->image(0, 0, this->config_->icons[this->icon]);
+            if (this->icon != BLANKICON)
+            {
+              this->config_->display->image(0, 0, this->config_->icons[this->icon]);
+            }
           }
         }
         break;