diff --git a/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/route/AbstractDataRouter.java b/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/route/AbstractDataRouter.java
index fd7b2c5b2f..70e61b23a7 100644
--- a/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/route/AbstractDataRouter.java
+++ b/symmetric-core/src/main/java/org/jumpmind/symmetric/route/AbstractDataRouter.java
@@ -161,6 +161,8 @@ protected Map<String, Object> getDataObjectMap(DataMetaData dataMetaData,
                 data = new HashMap<String, Object>(1);
             }
             data.put("EXTERNAL_DATA", dataMetaData.getData().getExternalData());
+        } else if (data != null) {
+            data.put("EXTERNAL_DATA", null);
         }
         return data;
     }