diff --git a/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/user/workspace/server/GWTWorkspaceServiceImpl.java b/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/user/workspace/server/GWTWorkspaceServiceImpl.java
index 0bac6b4..df49bc0 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/user/workspace/server/GWTWorkspaceServiceImpl.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/user/workspace/server/GWTWorkspaceServiceImpl.java
@@ -1234,8 +1234,14 @@ public class GWTWorkspaceServiceImpl extends RemoteServiceServlet implements GWT
 			WorkspaceSmartFolder wsSmartFolder  = workspace.getSmartFolder(folderId); //get Smart Folder from workspace	
 			workspaceLogger.trace("wsFolder " + wsSmartFolder.getName());
 			GWTWorkspaceBuilder builder = getGWTWorkspaceBuilder();
-			workspaceLogger.trace(" children size "+wsSmartFolder.getSearchItems().size());
-			return builder.buildGXTListFileGridModelItemForSearch((List<SearchItem>) wsSmartFolder.getSearchItems());
+			
+			List<? extends SearchItem> searchItems = wsSmartFolder.getSearchItems();
+			
+			if(searchItems!=null){
+				workspaceLogger.trace("smart folders size "+searchItems.size());
+				return builder.buildGXTListFileGridModelItemForSearch((List<SearchItem>) searchItems);
+			}else
+				return new ArrayList<FileGridModel>();
 		
 		} catch (Exception e) {
 			workspaceLogger.error("Error in get server smart folder by id", e);