diff --git a/taxonomy_formatter.module b/taxonomy_formatter.module
index 02ae9b6..d90d038 100644
--- a/taxonomy_formatter.module
+++ b/taxonomy_formatter.module
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ function taxonomy_formatter_field_formatter_settings_summary($field, $instance,
  * Implements hook_field_formatter_view().
  */
 function taxonomy_formatter_field_formatter_view($entity_type, $entity, $field, $instance, $langcode, $items, $display) {
+  if (empty($items)) return '';
   $settings = $display['settings'];
   $element = array();
   $separator = check_plain($settings['separator_option']);
@@ -157,4 +158,4 @@ function taxonomy_formatter_field_formatter_view($entity_type, $entity, $field,
   $formatted = $wrapper[0] . $formatted . $wrapper[1];
   $element[0]['#markup'] = $formatted;
   return $element;
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}