diff --git a/chrome/chromeFiles/content/scholar/xpcom/data_access.js b/chrome/chromeFiles/content/scholar/xpcom/data_access.js
index b1f755621d..77a7c3260b 100644
--- a/chrome/chromeFiles/content/scholar/xpcom/data_access.js
+++ b/chrome/chromeFiles/content/scholar/xpcom/data_access.js
@@ -892,7 +892,8 @@ Scholar.Item.prototype.getNote = function(){
 	}
 	
 	var sql = "SELECT note FROM itemNotes WHERE itemID=" + this.getID();
-	return Scholar.DB.valueQuery(sql);
+	var note = Scholar.DB.valueQuery(sql);
+	return note ? note : '';
 }