diff --git a/includes/form.inc b/includes/form.inc
index 40363d6..e17aa71 100644
--- a/includes/form.inc
+++ b/includes/form.inc
@@ -3715,6 +3715,7 @@ function theme_form($variables) {
  */
 function theme_textarea($variables) {
   $element = $variables['element'];
+  $element['#value'] = isset($element['#value']) ? $element['#value'] : '';
   element_set_attributes($element, array('id', 'name', 'rows', 'cols', 'placeholder'));
   _form_set_class($element, array('form-textarea'));