diff --git a/C4/SIP/ILS/Item.pm b/C4/SIP/ILS/Item.pm
index 578f3828a4..45e59b3970 100644
--- a/C4/SIP/ILS/Item.pm
+++ b/C4/SIP/ILS/Item.pm
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ sub new {
 	bless $self, $type;
 
     syslog("LOG_DEBUG", "new ILS::Item('%s'): found with title '%s'",
-	   $item_id, $self->{title});
+        $item_id, $self->{title}//'' );
 
     return $self;
 }