diff --git a/py/core/doctype/doctype/doctype.py b/py/core/doctype/doctype/doctype.py
index ff3e766f3c..44d1a47581 100644
--- a/py/core/doctype/doctype/doctype.py
+++ b/py/core/doctype/doctype/doctype.py
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ class DocType:
 		fieldnames = {}
 		illegal = ['.', ',', ' ', '-', '&', '%', '=', '"', "'", '*', '$']
 		for d in self.doclist:
+			if not d.permlevel: d.permlevel = 0
 			if d.parent and d.fieldtype and d.parent == self.doc.name:
 				# check if not double
 				if d.fieldname: