diff --git a/src/engine/objects/Item.java b/src/engine/objects/Item.java
index d469d4da..d4e208d0 100644
--- a/src/engine/objects/Item.java
+++ b/src/engine/objects/Item.java
@@ -153,8 +153,9 @@ public class Item extends AbstractWorldObject {
 
         String flagString = rs.getString("item_flags");
 
-        for (String itemFlag : flagString.split(";"))
-            this.flags.add(Enum.ItemFlags.valueOf(itemFlag));
+        if (flagString.isEmpty() == false)
+            for (String itemFlag : flagString.split(";"))
+                this.flags.add(Enum.ItemFlags.valueOf(itemFlag));
 
         // Backfill support