diff --git a/C4/Languages.pm b/C4/Languages.pm
index 21c4ce4e6f..079737da8c 100644
--- a/C4/Languages.pm
+++ b/C4/Languages.pm
@@ -229,8 +229,7 @@ sub getLanguages {
             $language_subtag_registry->{iso639_2_code} = $language_descriptions->{iso639_2_code};
             # fill in the current selected ui language's translation, as well as the native description of the language
             if ($native_description) {
-                $language_subtag_registry->{language_description} = $language_descriptions->{description}
-                    if $language_descriptions->{description};
+                $language_subtag_registry->{language_description} = $language_descriptions->{description} || q{};
                 $language_subtag_registry->{language_description} .= " ($native_description)";
             }
             else {