diff --git a/classes/api.php b/classes/api.php
index effa2148d..7bc611791 100755
--- a/classes/api.php
+++ b/classes/api.php
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ class API extends Handler {
 
 			$_SESSION['hasSandbox'] = $has_sandbox;
 
-			list($override_order, $skip_first_id_check) = Feeds::_order_to_override_query(clean($_REQUEST["order_by"] ?? null));
+			list($override_order, $skip_first_id_check) = Feeds::_order_to_override_query(clean($_REQUEST["order_by"]) ?? "");
 
 			/* do not rely on params below */