diff --git a/plugins/fabrik_list/update_col/update_col.php b/plugins/fabrik_list/update_col/update_col.php
index 4bb0208afe0..17e82bfbe9b 100644
--- a/plugins/fabrik_list/update_col/update_col.php
+++ b/plugins/fabrik_list/update_col/update_col.php
@@ -134,6 +134,7 @@ protected function getUpdateCols($params)
 
 		// get the pre-set updates
 		$update = json_decode($params->get('update_col_updates'));
+		if (is_null($update) ) $update = new stdClass();
 
 		$prompt = $params->get('update_col_prompt', false);