diff --git a/app/models/sort_title.rb b/app/models/sort_title.rb
index 55ff31337..acc79b939 100644
--- a/app/models/sort_title.rb
+++ b/app/models/sort_title.rb
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@ def initialize(title)
   end
 
   def alphabetical
+    return if @title.blank?
+
     title = @title.downcase
     title = title.gsub(/^an(?:[[:space:]])/, '')
                  .gsub(/^a(?:[[:space:]])/, '')