diff --git a/options_element.inc b/options_element.inc
index 872e3fa..217fe60 100644
--- a/options_element.inc
+++ b/options_element.inc
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ function _form_options_from_text($text, $key_type, $flat = FALSE, &$duplicates =
 
   // Expand the list into a nested array, assign keys and check duplicates.
   $options = array();
-  $new_key = 0;
+  $new_key = 1;
   foreach ($items as $item) {
     if (is_int($item['key'] * 1)) {
       $new_key = max($item['key'], $new_key);