diff --git a/openerp/tools/html_sanitize.py b/openerp/tools/html_sanitize.py
index 74d83a2c453..e8896774dc1 100644
--- a/openerp/tools/html_sanitize.py
+++ b/openerp/tools/html_sanitize.py
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ from pyquery import PyQuery as pq
 import re
 
 def html_sanitize(x):
+    if not x:
+        return x
     root = pq("<div />")
     root.html(x)
     result = handle_element(root[0])