diff --git a/app/views/protocols/import_export/_import_json_protocol_preview_modal.html.erb b/app/views/protocols/import_export/_import_json_protocol_preview_modal.html.erb
index bf10fb540..4af0850ff 100644
--- a/app/views/protocols/import_export/_import_json_protocol_preview_modal.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/protocols/import_export/_import_json_protocol_preview_modal.html.erb
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
             <span class="glyphicon glyphicon-user">
             </span>&nbsp;<%= t('protocols.import_export.import_modal.authors_label') %>
           </label>
-          <%= f.text_field :authors, :value => pio_eval_title_len(sanitize_input(@json_object['full_name'])), class:
+          <%= f.text_field :authors, :value => pio_eval_title_len(sanitize_input(not_null(@json_object['authors']))), class:
           "form-control" %>
 
         </div>