diff --git a/evennia/utils/evmenu.py b/evennia/utils/evmenu.py
index a7111d473b..4e8a2004ff 100644
--- a/evennia/utils/evmenu.py
+++ b/evennia/utils/evmenu.py
@@ -918,6 +918,8 @@ class EvMenu:
         # helptext can also be a dict, which allows for tooltip command-text (key-value) or
         # ((key,aliases)-value) pairs.
 
+        # make sure helptext is defined
+        helptext = ""       
         if is_iter(nodetext):
             nodetext, *helptext = nodetext
             helptext = helptext[0] if helptext else ""