diff --git a/models/export.js b/models/export.js
index 0911a631f..62d2687a8 100644
--- a/models/export.js
+++ b/models/export.js
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class Exporter {
 
   build() {
     const byBoard = { boardId: this._boardId };
-    const byBoardNoLinked = { boardId: this._boardId, linkedId: '' };
+    const byBoardNoLinked = { boardId: this._boardId, linkedId: {$in: ['', null] } };
     // we do not want to retrieve boardId in related elements
     const noBoardId = {
       fields: {