diff --git a/themes/default/template/header.tpl b/themes/default/template/header.tpl
index 3e83dec1b..1ff344c77 100644
--- a/themes/default/template/header.tpl
+++ b/themes/default/template/header.tpl
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@
 </div>
 {/if}
 
-<div id="theHeader">{$PAGE_BANNER}</div>
+<div id="theHeader">{$PAGE_BANNER|default:''}</div>
 
 {if not empty($header_notes)}
 <div class="header_notes">