diff --git a/app/models/dialog_field_sorted_item.rb b/app/models/dialog_field_sorted_item.rb
index 80e8672db5b..dec19be284e 100644
--- a/app/models/dialog_field_sorted_item.rb
+++ b/app/models/dialog_field_sorted_item.rb
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ def sort_data(data_to_sort)
   def raw_values
     @raw_values ||= dynamic ? values_from_automate : self[:values].to_miq_a
     unless @raw_values.collect { |value_pair| value_pair[0] }.include?(default_value)
-      self.default_value = sort_data(@raw_values).first.first
+      self.default_value = sort_data(@raw_values).first.try(:first)
     end
     self.value ||= default_value
 
diff --git a/spec/models/dialog_field_drop_down_list_spec.rb b/spec/models/dialog_field_drop_down_list_spec.rb
index 613076df272..d0a6815aa37 100644
--- a/spec/models/dialog_field_drop_down_list_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/dialog_field_drop_down_list_spec.rb
@@ -238,11 +238,27 @@
 
       context "when the raw values are not already set" do
         before do
-          dialog_field.values = %w(original values)
+          dialog_field.values = [%w(original values)]
         end
 
         it "returns the values" do
-          expect(dialog_field.trigger_automate_value_updates).to eq(%w(original values))
+          expect(dialog_field.trigger_automate_value_updates).to eq([%w(original values)])
+        end
+
+        it "sets up the default value" do
+          dialog_field.trigger_automate_value_updates
+          expect(dialog_field.default_value).to eq("original")
+        end
+      end
+
+      context "when the raw values are nil" do
+        before do
+          dialog_field.values = nil
+        end
+
+        it "sets the default value to nil without blowing up" do
+          dialog_field.trigger_automate_value_updates
+          expect(dialog_field.default_value).to eq(nil)
         end
       end
     end