diff --git a/src/com/android/contacts/common/list/PhoneNumberListAdapter.java b/src/com/android/contacts/common/list/PhoneNumberListAdapter.java
index e347e36..94c4854 100644
--- a/src/com/android/contacts/common/list/PhoneNumberListAdapter.java
+++ b/src/com/android/contacts/common/list/PhoneNumberListAdapter.java
@@ -114,7 +114,8 @@
         if (manager != null) {
             mExtendedDirectories = manager.getExtendedDirectories(mContext);
         } else {
-            mExtendedDirectories = null;
+            // Empty list to avoid sticky NPE's
+            mExtendedDirectories = new ArrayList<DirectoryPartition>();
         }
     }