diff --git a/lib/WebGUI/Inbox.pm b/lib/WebGUI/Inbox.pm
index 2c3e01c2e..b875b881c 100644
--- a/lib/WebGUI/Inbox.pm
+++ b/lib/WebGUI/Inbox.pm
@@ -456,6 +456,7 @@ sub getMessageSql {
     my $limitHalf    = $messageLimit / 2;
     my $limitQuarter = $messageLimit / 4;
     my $userGroups   = $session->db->quoteAndJoin( $user->getGroupIdsRecursive );
+    $userGroups      = "''" if $userGroups eq "";
 
     # for performance purposes don't use datasets larger than 20000 no matter how man messages are in the inbox
     my $sql = qq{