You can use the empty keyword, like this: #{advertisingCampaign.keywords == null || empty advertisingCampaign.keyword} View the original post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=viewtopic&p=4043400#4043400 Reply to the post : http://www.jboss.com/index.html?module=bb&op=posting&mode=reply&p=4043400