diff --git a/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/data/item.js b/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/data/item.js
index 3094fcf2fa..53d6d7de1b 100644
--- a/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/data/item.js
+++ b/chrome/content/zotero/xpcom/data/item.js
@@ -2484,7 +2484,8 @@ Zotero.Item.prototype.getNotes = function(includeTrashed) {
 	
 	if (Zotero.Prefs.get('sortNotesChronologically')) {
 		sql += " ORDER BY dateAdded";
-		return Zotero.DB.columnQuery(sql, this.id);
+		var results = Zotero.DB.columnQuery(sql, this.id);
+		return results ? results : [];
 	}
 	
 	var notes = Zotero.DB.query(sql, this.id);