diff --git a/retroshare-qml-app/src/GxsIdentityDelegate.qml b/retroshare-qml-app/src/GxsIdentityDelegate.qml
index 4d7c64918..634bab277 100644
--- a/retroshare-qml-app/src/GxsIdentityDelegate.qml
+++ b/retroshare-qml-app/src/GxsIdentityDelegate.qml
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ Item
 
 
 	property var chatId: undefined
-	property var lastMessageData: ""
+	property var lastMessageData: ({})
 	property var locale: Qt.locale()