diff --git a/neo/util.py b/neo/util.py
index 9442509703c3522c1e24a78deb2ebee445f8bf38..84aaff673433f3d9fcb0b6bfd95f80b3ac4b5fef 100644
--- a/neo/util.py
+++ b/neo/util.py
@@ -79,6 +79,8 @@ def getNextTID(ltid):
     return tid
 
 def parseMasterList(masters, except_node=None):
+    if not masters:
+        return []
     # load master node list
     master_node_list = []
     for node in masters.split('/'):