diff --git a/mythtv/programs/mythshutdown/main.cpp b/mythtv/programs/mythshutdown/main.cpp
index cf369d9e37c..8dd4f2ee32f 100644
--- a/mythtv/programs/mythshutdown/main.cpp
+++ b/mythtv/programs/mythshutdown/main.cpp
@@ -23,8 +23,10 @@ using namespace std;
 #include "programinfo.h"
 #include "signalhandling.h"
 
-static void setGlobalSetting(const QString &key, const QString &value)
+static void setGlobalSetting(const QString &key, const QString &v)
 {
+    QString value = (v.isNull()) ? QString("") : v;
+
     MSqlQuery query(MSqlQuery::InitCon());
     if (query.isConnected())
     {