diff --git a/src/components/com_weblinks/models/categories.php b/src/components/com_weblinks/models/categories.php
index 0ae095ad8a1..e5295b39da7 100644
--- a/src/components/com_weblinks/models/categories.php
+++ b/src/components/com_weblinks/models/categories.php
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ protected function getStoreId($id = '')
 	 */
 	public function getItems()
 	{
-		if (!count($this->_items))
+		if (is_null($this->_items) || !count($this->_items))
 		{
 			$app = JFactory::getApplication();
 			$menu = $app->getMenu();