diff --git a/php/libraries/NDB_BVL_Instrument.class.inc b/php/libraries/NDB_BVL_Instrument.class.inc
index 471456ebe93..99f4616fae0 100644
--- a/php/libraries/NDB_BVL_Instrument.class.inc
+++ b/php/libraries/NDB_BVL_Instrument.class.inc
@@ -794,7 +794,7 @@ abstract class NDB_BVL_Instrument extends NDB_Page
             $values = Utility::nullifyEmpty($values, $key);
         }
 
-        if ($this->jsonData !== true) {
+        if ($this->jsonData !== true && !empty($values)) {
             // If the instrument is saving as JSON into the Data column, the
             // table may not exist, so don't try and update it.
             $db->update(