diff --git a/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/observation_field.py b/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/observation_field.py
index 5a1452033dce20fdefcb7a8f2a9b6d183d9598e3..c0ef919ebbea7f8c9f9d686cf5e2f22dba86c0dc 100644
--- a/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/observation_field.py
+++ b/tangostationcontrol/tangostationcontrol/devices/observation_field.py
@@ -220,9 +220,9 @@ class ObservationField(LOFARDevice):
     def HBA_tile_beam_R(self):
         try:
             if self._observation_field_settings.HBA.tile_beam is None:
-                return None
+                return []
         except AttributeError:
-            return None
+            return []
 
         pointing_direction = self._observation_field_settings.HBA.tile_beam
         return [