diff --git a/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/model/Node.java b/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/model/Node.java
index 69e477f844..c76ed25ed5 100644
--- a/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/model/Node.java
+++ b/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/model/Node.java
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ public class Node implements Serializable, Comparable<Node> {
     private String deploymentSubType;
     private int[] symmetricVersionParts;
     private Date lastSuccessfulSyncDate;
-    private String mostRecentActiveTableSynced;
+    private String mostRecentActiveTableSynced="";
     private int dataRowsToSendCount;
     private int dataRowsLoadedCount;
     private Date oldestLoadTime;
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ public int compareTo(Node other) {
     }
 
     public String getMostRecentActiveTableSynced() {
-        return mostRecentActiveTableSynced;
+        return mostRecentActiveTableSynced == null ? "" : mostRecentActiveTableSynced;
     }
 
     public void setMostRecentActiveTableSynced(String mostRecentActiveTableSynced) {