diff --git a/crates/app/src/public/html/components.lisp b/crates/app/src/public/html/components.lisp
index 2e09987..578345a 100644
--- a/crates/app/src/public/html/components.lisp
+++ b/crates/app/src/public/html/components.lisp
@@ -836,7 +836,7 @@
 (script
     (text "globalThis.gerald = null;
     // asking about
-    globalThis.asking_about = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search).get(\"asking_about\");
+    globalThis.asking_about = new URLSearchParams(window.location.search).get(\"asking_about\") || \"\";
 
     if (asking_about) {
         document.getElementById(\"create_question_form\").innerHTML +=