diff --git a/field_group.module b/field_group.module
index aeac211..750e72a 100644
--- a/field_group.module
+++ b/field_group.module
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ function field_group_field_group_format_settings($group) {
     case 'accordion-item':
     default:
   }
-  
+
   // Allow field_group to be displayed even if contained fields are currently empty.
   $form['instance_settings']['show_empty_fields'] = array(
     '#title' => t('Show Empty Fields'),
@@ -1229,6 +1229,10 @@ function _field_group_is_empty_element($element, $entity, $childname, $groups) {
     return FALSE;
   }
 
+  if (is_null($element[$childname])) {
+    return FALSE;
+  }
+
   $children = element_children($element[$childname]);
 
   foreach ($children as $child) {