diff --git a/sat/memory/sqlite.py b/sat/memory/sqlite.py
index d1345fb4..ed5b7bb1 100644
--- a/sat/memory/sqlite.py
+++ b/sat/memory/sqlite.py
@@ -905,11 +905,18 @@ class SqliteStorage(object):
                 older_value_raw = cursor.fetchone()[0]
             except TypeError:
                 raise exceptions.NotFound
-            value = json.loads(older_value_raw)
+            if older_value_raw is None:
+                value = {}
+            else:
+                value = json.loads(older_value_raw)
             update_cb(value)
             value_raw = json.dumps(value)
-            update_query = 'UPDATE files SET {column}=? WHERE id=? AND {column}=?'.format(column=column)
-            update_args = (value_raw, file_id, older_value_raw)
+            if older_value_raw is None:
+                update_query = 'UPDATE files SET {column}=? WHERE id=? AND {column} is NULL'.format(column=column)
+                update_args = (value_raw, file_id)
+            else:
+                update_query = 'UPDATE files SET {column}=? WHERE id=? AND {column}=?'.format(column=column)
+                update_args = (value_raw, file_id, older_value_raw)
             try:
                 cursor.execute(update_query, update_args)
             except sqlite3.Error: