diff --git a/modules/file/file.module b/modules/file/file.module
index 2dd2bad..3dc2394 100644
--- a/modules/file/file.module
+++ b/modules/file/file.module
@@ -972,7 +972,10 @@ function file_get_file_references($file, $field = NULL, $age = FIELD_LOAD_REVISI
       $query
         ->fieldCondition($file_field, 'fid', $file->fid)
         ->age($age);
-      $references[$field_name] = $query->execute();
+      $query_result = $query->execute();
+      if ($query_result) {
+        $references[$field_name] = $query_result;
+      }
     }
   }