diff --git a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/ExternalRequest.ts b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/ExternalRequest.ts
index 1465f20ac8..f7db52d0b2 100644
--- a/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/ExternalRequest.ts
+++ b/packages/server/src/api/controllers/row/ExternalRequest.ts
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ module External {
     ): Row {
       for (let relationship of relationships) {
         const linkedTable = this.tables[relationship.tableName]
-        if (!linkedTable) {
+        if (!linkedTable || !row[relationship.column]) {
           continue
         }
         const display = linkedTable.primaryDisplay