diff --git a/circ/circulation.pl b/circ/circulation.pl
index 941306a1c8..ebb8d8bab1 100755
--- a/circ/circulation.pl
+++ b/circ/circulation.pl
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ if (@$barcodes) {
             #  Get the item title for more information
             my $materials = $iteminfo->{'materials'};
             my $descriptions = Koha::AuthorisedValues->get_description_by_koha_field({ frameworkcode => $getmessageiteminfo->{frameworkcode}, kohafield => 'items.materials', authorised_value => $materials });
-            $materials = $descriptions->{lib} // '';
+            $materials = $descriptions->{lib} // $materials;
             $template_params->{additional_materials} = $materials;
             $template_params->{itemhomebranch} = $iteminfo->{'homebranch'};
 
diff --git a/circ/returns.pl b/circ/returns.pl
index 3ef887fbf2..ba3707bdc6 100755
--- a/circ/returns.pl
+++ b/circ/returns.pl
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@ if ($barcode) {
 
     my $materials = $biblio->{'materials'};
     my $descriptions = Koha::AuthorisedValues->get_description_by_koha_field({frameworkcode => '', kohafield =>'items.materials', authorised_value => $materials });
-    $materials = $descriptions->{lib} // '';
+    $materials = $descriptions->{lib} // $materials;
 
     $template->param(
         title            => $biblio->{'title'},