diff --git a/program/js/googiespell.js b/program/js/googiespell.js
index 6101fd2ea..7f465687c 100644
--- a/program/js/googiespell.js
+++ b/program/js/googiespell.js
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ this.getUrl = function()
 
 this.escapeSpecial = function(val)
 {
-    return val.replace(/&/g, "&amp;").replace(/</g, "&lt;").replace(/>/g, "&gt;");
+    return val ? val.replace(/&/g, "&amp;").replace(/</g, "&lt;").replace(/>/g, "&gt;") : '';
 };
 
 this.createXMLReq = function (text)