diff --git a/chrome/chromeFiles/content/scholar/xpcom/data_access.js b/chrome/chromeFiles/content/scholar/xpcom/data_access.js
index d5311beca..2897e78c5 100644
--- a/chrome/chromeFiles/content/scholar/xpcom/data_access.js
+++ b/chrome/chromeFiles/content/scholar/xpcom/data_access.js
@@ -333,7 +333,8 @@ Scholar.Item.prototype.setField = function(field, value, loadIn){
 		}
 		
 		// If existing value, make sure it's actually changing
-		if (this._itemData[fieldID] && this._itemData[fieldID]==value){
+		if ((!this._itemData[fieldID] && !value) ||
+			(this._itemData[fieldID] && this._itemData[fieldID]==value)){
 			return false;
 		}
 		this._itemData[fieldID] = value;