diff --git a/src/Serializer/ArticleVoRNormalizer.php b/src/Serializer/ArticleVoRNormalizer.php
index edf1be4f..95fcee7a 100644
--- a/src/Serializer/ArticleVoRNormalizer.php
+++ b/src/Serializer/ArticleVoRNormalizer.php
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ protected function denormalizeArticle(
         array $context = []
     ) : ArticleVersion {
 
-        if (empty($data['elifeAssessment'])) {
+        if (empty($data['elifeAssessment']) || !isset($data['elifeAssessment'])) {
             $elifeAssessmentTitle = null;
             $elifeAssessmentScietyUri = null;
             $elifeAssessmentArticleSection = null;