diff --git a/src/memory/params.py b/src/memory/params.py
index f7827b3d..2c99404b 100644
--- a/src/memory/params.py
+++ b/src/memory/params.py
@@ -373,10 +373,10 @@ class Params(object):
                         log.error(_(u'Parameter (%(cat)s, %(param)s) of type list has more than one default option!') % {'cat': cat, 'param': param})
                     raise exceptions.DataError
             elif node.getAttribute('type') == 'jids_list':
-                if not value:
+                if not value_to_use:
                     log.debug(u"jids list value is empty")
                     return []
-                jids = value.split('\t')
+                jids = value_to_use.split('\t')
                 to_delete = []
                 for idx, value in enumerate(jids):
                     try: