diff --git a/frappe/model/db_query.py b/frappe/model/db_query.py
index 116255106c..e009dd354c 100644
--- a/frappe/model/db_query.py
+++ b/frappe/model/db_query.py
@@ -172,6 +172,9 @@ class DatabaseQuery(object):
 				except ValueError:
 					self.fields = [f.strip() for f in self.fields.split(",")]
 
+		# remove empty strings / nulls in fields
+		self.fields = [f for f in self.fields if f]
+
 		for filter_name in ["filters", "or_filters"]:
 			filters = getattr(self, filter_name)
 			if isinstance(filters, string_types):