diff --git a/src/scratchpad/src/org/apache/poi/hwpf/converter/AbstractWordConverter.java b/src/scratchpad/src/org/apache/poi/hwpf/converter/AbstractWordConverter.java
index 0c68acef4..29875d67d 100644
--- a/src/scratchpad/src/org/apache/poi/hwpf/converter/AbstractWordConverter.java
+++ b/src/scratchpad/src/org/apache/poi/hwpf/converter/AbstractWordConverter.java
@@ -850,7 +850,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractWordConverter
             String[] values = cr.getDropDownListValues();
             Integer defIndex = cr.getDropDownListDefaultItemIndex();
 
-            if ( values != null )
+            if ( values != null && values.length > 0 )
             {
                 processDropDownList( currentBlock, cr, values,
                         defIndex == null ? -1 : defIndex.intValue() );
diff --git a/test-data/document/au.edu.utas.www___data_assets_word_doc_0003_154335_International-Travel-Approval-Request-Form.doc b/test-data/document/au.edu.utas.www___data_assets_word_doc_0003_154335_International-Travel-Approval-Request-Form.doc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..82d00415e
Binary files /dev/null and b/test-data/document/au.edu.utas.www___data_assets_word_doc_0003_154335_International-Travel-Approval-Request-Form.doc differ