diff --git a/plugins/dojo/src/main/resources/template/ajax/treenode-include.ftl b/plugins/dojo/src/main/resources/template/ajax/treenode-include.ftl
index fec4f4d0c..3eee2e379 100644
--- a/plugins/dojo/src/main/resources/template/ajax/treenode-include.ftl
+++ b/plugins/dojo/src/main/resources/template/ajax/treenode-include.ftl
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
  */
 -->
 <div dojoType="struts:StrutsTreeNode" title="${stack.findValue(parameters.nodeTitleProperty)}" id="${stack.findValue(parameters.nodeIdProperty)}">
-<#list stack.findValue(parameters.childCollectionProperty.toString()) as child>
+<#list stack.findValue(parameters.childCollectionProperty.toString())! as child>
     ${stack.push(child)}
     <#include "/${parameters.templateDir}/ajax/treenode-include.ftl" />
     <#assign oldNode = stack.pop() /> <#-- pop the node off of the stack, but don't show it -->