diff --git a/PyTeX/format/generic_text.py b/PyTeX/format/generic_text.py
index dd6bbc1..94a644a 100644
--- a/PyTeX/format/generic_text.py
+++ b/PyTeX/format/generic_text.py
@@ -86,12 +86,14 @@ class GenericText:
     def __add__(self, other):
         if not self.has_value():
             return other
-        if not other.has_value():
-            return self
         if isinstance(other, GenericText):
+            if not other.has_value():
+                return self
             return GenericText(self.text + other.text)
         else:
             return GenericText(self.text + other)
 
-    def __iadd__(self, other):
-        self.text = self + other
+    def __radd__(self, other):
+        if other is None:
+            return self
+        return other + self