diff --git a/src/main/java/eu/dnetlib/uoamonitorservice/controllers/IndicatorController.java b/src/main/java/eu/dnetlib/uoamonitorservice/controllers/IndicatorController.java
index bc1ebf9..1d8a186 100644
--- a/src/main/java/eu/dnetlib/uoamonitorservice/controllers/IndicatorController.java
+++ b/src/main/java/eu/dnetlib/uoamonitorservice/controllers/IndicatorController.java
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ public class IndicatorController {
 
             for (String sectionId : sections) {
                 Section section = sectionDAO.findById(sectionId);
-                if(section.getDefaultId().equals(defaultSection.getId())) {
+                if(section.getDefaultId() != null && section.getDefaultId().equals(defaultSection.getId())) {
                     Indicator indicatorNew = new Indicator();
                     indicatorNew.copyFromDefault(indicator, subCategory.getVisibility());
                     for (IndicatorPath indicatorPath : indicatorNew.getIndicatorPaths()) {