diff --git a/lib/datalib.php b/lib/datalib.php
index 1570ffd..a905ab8 100644
--- a/lib/datalib.php
+++ b/lib/datalib.php
@@ -720,7 +720,7 @@ function get_courses_search($searchterms, $sort='fullname ASC', $page=0, $record
     $params     = array();
     $i = 0;
 
-    $concat = $DB->sql_concat('c.summary', "' '", 'c.fullname');
+    $concat = $DB->sql_concat("COALESCE(c.summary, '')", "' '", "c.fullname");
 
     foreach ($searchterms as $searchterm) {
         $i++;