diff --git a/netmiko/base_connection.py b/netmiko/base_connection.py
index 48a28f444..c61ebde59 100644
--- a/netmiko/base_connection.py
+++ b/netmiko/base_connection.py
@@ -2032,6 +2032,8 @@ def enable_secret_handler(
         if re.search(pattern, output, flags=re_flags):
             self.write_channel(self.normalize_cmd(self.secret))
             new_output = self.read_until_prompt()
+        else:
+            new_output = ""
         return new_output
 
     def enable(