diff --git a/model/src/main/java/lcsb/mapviewer/model/map/model/ModelData.java b/model/src/main/java/lcsb/mapviewer/model/map/model/ModelData.java
index 944387516ac51c92b9da59e829fd226106da8285..2e03cbf9b7eb341dcc586cad2336fdd4274ca041 100644
--- a/model/src/main/java/lcsb/mapviewer/model/map/model/ModelData.java
+++ b/model/src/main/java/lcsb/mapviewer/model/map/model/ModelData.java
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ public class ModelData implements Serializable {
    * Description of the map.
    */
   @Column(columnDefinition = "TEXT")
-  private String notes;
+  private String notes = "";
 
   /**
    * Name of the map.