diff --git a/src/grib_accessor_class_long.c b/src/grib_accessor_class_long.c
index 6350ef106..adc3659fb 100644
--- a/src/grib_accessor_class_long.c
+++ b/src/grib_accessor_class_long.c
@@ -295,7 +295,16 @@ static int compare(grib_accessor* a, grib_accessor* b)
 static int pack_string(grib_accessor* a, const char* val, size_t* len)
 {
     char* theEnd = NULL;
-    long v       = strtol(val, &theEnd, 10);
+    long v = 0;
+
+#if 0
+    /* Requires more work e.g. filter */
+    if (strcmp_nocase(val, "missing")==0) {
+        return pack_missing(a);
+    }
+#endif
+
+    v = strtol(val, &theEnd, 10);
     if (theEnd) {
         grib_context_log(a->context, GRIB_LOG_ERROR, "trying to pack \"%s\" as long", val);
         return GRIB_WRONG_TYPE;