diff --git a/HISTORY.rst b/HISTORY.rst
index 034678290..9cf978fc3 100644
--- a/HISTORY.rst
+++ b/HISTORY.rst
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ End-User Summary
 - Fixing problem with multi-sample queries (#419)
 - Fixing issue with cohort queries (#420)
 - Fixing issue with mutationtaster queries (#423)
+- Fixing problem with multi-variant update (#419)
 
 Full Change List
 ================
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ Full Change List
   We will need a different approach for the queries than was previously attempted here.
 - Fixing issue with cohort queries (#420)
 - Fixing issue with mutationtaster queries (#423)
+- Fixing problem with multi-variant update (#419)
 
 ------
 v1.1.1
diff --git a/variants/views.py b/variants/views.py
index 0b2960d30..037e4de81 100644
--- a/variants/views.py
+++ b/variants/views.py
@@ -4054,6 +4054,10 @@ class MultiSmallVariantFlagsAndCommentApiView(
 
     def get(self, *_args, **_kwargs):
         get_data = dict(self.request.GET)
+        if not get_data.get("variant_list"):  # short-circuit
+            return JsonResponse(
+                {"flags": [], "flags_interfering": [], "variant_list": []}, UUIDEncoder
+            )
         variant_list = json.loads(get_data.get("variant_list")[0])
         flags_keys = [
             "flag_bookmarked",