diff --git a/sources/PropertyType/ValueType/AbstractValueType.php b/sources/PropertyType/ValueType/AbstractValueType.php
index 13301b8b2..2724917e1 100644
--- a/sources/PropertyType/ValueType/AbstractValueType.php
+++ b/sources/PropertyType/ValueType/AbstractValueType.php
@@ -246,6 +246,6 @@ PHP;
 
 	public function DeserializeFromDOMNode(DesignElement $oDOMNode): mixed
 	{
-		return trim($oDOMNode->GetText());
+		return trim($oDOMNode->GetText() ?? '');
 	}
 }