diff --git a/C4/Letters.pm b/C4/Letters.pm
index e5c15ba5d9..dc9574f39b 100644
--- a/C4/Letters.pm
+++ b/C4/Letters.pm
@@ -803,7 +803,7 @@ sub _parseletter {
 
     # Work on a local copy of $values_in (passed by reference) to avoid side effects
     # in callers ( by changing / formatting values )
-    my $values = { %$values_in };
+    my $values = $values_in ? { %$values_in } : {};
 
     if ( $table eq 'borrowers' && $values->{'dateexpiry'} ){
         $values->{'dateexpiry'} = format_sqldatetime( $values->{'dateexpiry'} );