diff --git a/ietf/utils/db.py b/ietf/utils/db.py
index 67f1237b6..d451f6cfd 100644
--- a/ietf/utils/db.py
+++ b/ietf/utils/db.py
@@ -23,6 +23,6 @@ class IETFJSONField(jsonfield.JSONField):
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
 
     def formfield(self, **kwargs):
-        if issubclass(kwargs['form_class'], FormIETFJSONField):
+        if 'form_class' not in kwargs or issubclass(kwargs['form_class'], FormIETFJSONField):
             kwargs.setdefault('empty_values', self.empty_values)
         return super().formfield(**{**kwargs})