diff --git node_reference/node_reference.module node_reference/node_reference.module
index 46d1e13..d8a8eda 100644
--- node_reference/node_reference.module
+++ node_reference/node_reference.module
@@ -158,11 +158,13 @@ function _node_reference_view_settings_validate($element, &$form_state, $form) {
   // Explode the 'args' string into an actual array. Beware, explode() turns an
   // empty string into an array with one empty string. We'll need an empty array
   // instead.
-  $args_string = trim($element['args']['#value']);
-  $args = ($args_string === '') ? array() : array_map('trim', explode(',', $args_string));
+  if (!empty($element['args']['#value'])) {
+    $args_string = trim($element['args']['#value']);
+    $args = ($args_string === '') ? array() : array_map('trim', explode(',', $args_string));
 
-  $value = array('view_name' => $view, 'display_name' => $display, 'args' => $args);
-  form_set_value($element, $value, $form_state);
+    $value = array('view_name' => $view, 'display_name' => $display, 'args' => $args);
+    form_set_value($element, $value, $form_state);
+  }
 }
 
 /**