diff --git a/server/AyaNova/DataList/DataListFetcher.cs b/server/AyaNova/DataList/DataListFetcher.cs
index 86220d9c..b6c78346 100644
--- a/server/AyaNova/DataList/DataListFetcher.cs
+++ b/server/AyaNova/DataList/DataListFetcher.cs
@@ -112,21 +112,28 @@ namespace AyaNova.DataList
                                 {
 
                                     DataListField AyaField = new DataListField();
-                                    var cust = dr.GetString(qSelect.map[f.GetSqlValueColumnName()]);
-                                    if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(cust))
+                                    //could be null
+                                    var rawValue = dr.GetValue(qSelect.map[f.GetSqlValueColumnName()]);
+                                    if (rawValue != null)
                                     {
-                                        JObject j = JObject.Parse(cust);
-                                        //convert field name to cust name then get value
-                                        var InternalCustomFieldName = FormFieldReference.TranslateLTCustomFieldToInternalCustomFieldName(TemplateField);
-                                        //Sometimes a custom field is specified but doesn't exist in the collection so don't assume it's there
-                                        // AyaField.v = j[InternalCustomFieldName].Value<object>();
-                                        JToken o = j[InternalCustomFieldName];
-                                        if (o != null)
-                                            AyaField.v = o.Value<object>();
-                                        else
-                                            AyaField.v = null;
+                                        string cust = rawValue.ToString();
+                                        if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(cust))
+                                        {
+                                            JObject j = JObject.Parse(cust);
+                                            //convert field name to cust name then get value
+                                            var InternalCustomFieldName = FormFieldReference.TranslateLTCustomFieldToInternalCustomFieldName(TemplateField);
+                                            //Sometimes a custom field is specified but doesn't exist in the collection so don't assume it's there
+                                            // AyaField.v = j[InternalCustomFieldName].Value<object>();
+                                            JToken o = j[InternalCustomFieldName];
+                                            if (o != null)
+                                                AyaField.v = o.Value<object>();
+                                            else
+                                                AyaField.v = null;
 
-                                        row.Add(AyaField);
+                                            row.Add(AyaField);
+                                        }else{
+                                            AyaField.v=null;
+                                        }
                                     }
 
                                     /*