diff --git a/libs/main/types/pivaluetree.cpp b/libs/main/types/pivaluetree.cpp
index ee354d54..cadce7e9 100644
--- a/libs/main/types/pivaluetree.cpp
+++ b/libs/main/types/pivaluetree.cpp
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ PIVariant PIValueTree::childValue(const PIString & child_name, const PIVariant &
 
 
 bool PIValueTree::contains(const PIString & name) const {
-	if (_is_null) return true;
+	if (_is_null) return false;
 	for (const auto & c: _children)
 		if (c.name() == name) return true;
 	return false;