diff --git a/apps/routerconsole/java/src/net/i2p/router/web/NewsFeedHelper.java b/apps/routerconsole/java/src/net/i2p/router/web/NewsFeedHelper.java
index 89928da897dd3d4af80023e85bab75c2f366151d..a40e3061a61674aa1af7166c0229ed5b4ce70ce7 100644
--- a/apps/routerconsole/java/src/net/i2p/router/web/NewsFeedHelper.java
+++ b/apps/routerconsole/java/src/net/i2p/router/web/NewsFeedHelper.java
@@ -56,7 +56,10 @@ public class NewsFeedHelper extends HelperBase {
                 if (init != null) {
                     // crude check to see if it's already in there
                     if (entries.size() != 1 || !DataHelper.eq(entries.get(0).title, init.title))
-                        entries.add(init);
+                        if (entries.isEmpty())
+                            entries = Collections.singletonList(init);  // in case it was an emtpyList
+                        else
+                            entries.add(init);
                 }
             }
         }