diff --git a/sites/all/modules/hierarchical_select/modules/hs_taxonomy.module b/sites/all/modules/hierarchical_select/modules/hs_taxonomy.module
index 8a591fc..d95bfb8 100644
--- a/sites/all/modules/hierarchical_select/modules/hs_taxonomy.module
+++ b/sites/all/modules/hierarchical_select/modules/hs_taxonomy.module
@@ -392,6 +392,11 @@ function hs_taxonomy_field_formatter_prepare_view($entity_type, $entities, $fiel
  * Implements hook_field_formatter_view().
  */
 function hs_taxonomy_field_formatter_view($entity_type, $entity, $field, $instance, $langcode, $items, $display) {
+  // Bail out if the field is empty.
+  if (!count($items)) {
+    return;
+  }
+
   // Extract required field information.
   $vocabulary = taxonomy_vocabulary_machine_name_load($field['settings']['allowed_values'][0]['vocabulary']);