diff --git a/data/model.py b/data/model.py
index 04f34e6fc..97db86cc5 100644
--- a/data/model.py
+++ b/data/model.py
@@ -287,6 +287,9 @@ def get_parent_images(image_obj):
   parents = image_obj.ancestors
   parent_db_ids = parents.strip('/').split('/')
 
+  if parent_db_ids == ['']:
+    return []
+
   or_clauses = [(Image.id == db_id) for db_id in parent_db_ids]
   parent_images = Image.select().where(reduce(operator.or_, or_clauses))
   id_to_image = {unicode(image.id): image for image in parent_images}