diff --git a/gracedb/buildVOEvent.py b/gracedb/buildVOEvent.py
index dcf0ef653fe3b9e6b0962daa4b2f087c421a1e10..871c43c7fb6e647d9157b908e8b524a41ea4d795 100755
--- a/gracedb/buildVOEvent.py
+++ b/gracedb/buildVOEvent.py
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ def buildVOEvent(event, serial_number, voevent_type, request=None, skymap_filena
         v.set_WhereWhen(ww)
 
     ############ Citation ############################
-    if voevent_type != 'preliminary':
+    if event.voevent_set.count() and voevent_type != 'preliminary':
         c = Citations()
         for ve in event.voevent_set.all():
             # Oh, actually we need to exclude *this* voevent.