diff --git a/app/src/org/commcare/views/QuestionsView.java b/app/src/org/commcare/views/QuestionsView.java
index 3f53ac2799..817663864d 100644
--- a/app/src/org/commcare/views/QuestionsView.java
+++ b/app/src/org/commcare/views/QuestionsView.java
@@ -129,7 +129,9 @@ public QuestionsView(Context context, FormEntryPrompt[] questionPrompts,
             qw.setId(VIEW_ID + widgetIdCount++);
 
             //Suppress the hint text if we bubbled it
-            qw.hideHintText();
+            if (hintText != null) {
+                qw.hideHintText();
+            }
 
             widgets.add(qw);
             mView.addView(qw, mLayout);