diff --git a/content/content-tool/tool/src/java/org/sakaiproject/content/tool/ListItem.java b/content/content-tool/tool/src/java/org/sakaiproject/content/tool/ListItem.java
index 46fe7ddcfdc5..d7534e230918 100644
--- a/content/content-tool/tool/src/java/org/sakaiproject/content/tool/ListItem.java
+++ b/content/content-tool/tool/src/java/org/sakaiproject/content/tool/ListItem.java
@@ -782,7 +782,9 @@ else if(this.iconLocation == null)
 		ArrayList<Group> site_groups = new ArrayList<Group>();
 		
 		String context = getSiteContext(refstr);
-		site = getSiteObject(context);
+		if(context != null) {
+			site = getSiteObject(context);
+		}
 		if(site != null)
 		{
 			for(Group gr : (Collection<Group>) site.getGroups())