diff --git a/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/js/checkouts.js b/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/js/checkouts.js
index 471ec6bc68..965aec6cf0 100644
--- a/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/js/checkouts.js
+++ b/koha-tmpl/intranet-tmpl/prog/js/checkouts.js
@@ -1010,8 +1010,13 @@ $(document).ready(function() {
                     {
                         "sClass": "return-claim-notes-td",
                         "mDataProp": function ( oObj ) {
-                            return '<span id="return-claim-notes-static-' + oObj.id + '" class="return-claim-notes" data-return-claim-id="' + oObj.id + '">' + oObj.notes + '</span>'
-                                + '<i style="float:right" class="fa fa-pencil-square-o" title="' + __("Double click to edit") + '"></i>';
+                            let notes =  '<span id="return-claim-notes-static-' + oObj.id + '" class="return-claim-notes" data-return-claim-id="' + oObj.id + '">';
+                            if ( oObj.notes ) {
+                                notes += oObj.notes;
+                            }
+                            notes += '</span>';
+                            notes += '<i style="float:right" class="fa fa-pencil-square-o" title="' + __("Double click to edit") + '"></i>';
+                            return notes;
                         }
                     },
                     {