diff --git a/web/includes/Object.php b/web/includes/Object.php
index 719312157..9900a984b 100644
--- a/web/includes/Object.php
+++ b/web/includes/Object.php
@@ -103,9 +103,8 @@ class ZM_Object {
             $fields[] = '`'.$field.'` IN ('.implode(',', array_map($func, $value)). ')';
             $values += $value;
           } else {
-            return array();
+            $fields[] = '`'.$field'` IN (select top 0 0)'; # evaluates to false
           }
-
         } else {
           $fields[] = '`'.$field.'`=?';
           $values[] = $value;