diff --git a/libraries/src/MVC/Model/ListModel.php b/libraries/src/MVC/Model/ListModel.php
index 03b94d0d93c0c..8020b933118dc 100644
--- a/libraries/src/MVC/Model/ListModel.php
+++ b/libraries/src/MVC/Model/ListModel.php
@@ -540,7 +540,7 @@ protected function populateState($ordering = null, $direction = null)
                                 break;
 
                             case 'direction':
-                                if (!\in_array(strtoupper($value), array('ASC', 'DESC', ''))) {
+                                if ($value && (!\in_array(strtoupper($value), array('ASC', 'DESC', '')))) {
                                     $value = $direction;
                                 }
                                 break;