diff --git a/src/core/PlayArea.ttslua b/src/core/PlayArea.ttslua
index 3640265e..ad422fae 100644
--- a/src/core/PlayArea.ttslua
+++ b/src/core/PlayArea.ttslua
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ function onObjectPickUp(player, object)
   -- should be tracking
   if showLocationLinks() and isInPlayArea(object) and object.getGMNotes() ~= nil and object.getGMNotes() ~= "" then
     local pickedUpGuid = object.getGUID()
-    local metadata = JSON.decode(object.getGMNotes())
+    local metadata = JSON.decode(object.getGMNotes()) or { }
     if (metadata.type == "Location") then
       -- onCollisionExit sometimes comes 1 frame after onObjectPickUp (rather than before it or in
       -- the same frame).  This causes a mismatch in the data between dragging the on-table, and