diff --git a/app/models/query.rb b/app/models/query.rb
index f41c1cdaa..0f1404745 100644
--- a/app/models/query.rb
+++ b/app/models/query.rb
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ class Query < ActiveRecord::Base
       index = (index ? index + 1 : -1)
       # insert the column after estimated_hours or at the end
       @available_columns.insert index, QueryColumn.new(:spent_hours,
-        :sortable => "(SELECT SUM(hours) FROM #{TimeEntry.table_name} WHERE #{TimeEntry.table_name}.issue_id = #{Issue.table_name}.id)",
+        :sortable => "(SELECT COALESCE(SUM(hours), 0) FROM #{TimeEntry.table_name} WHERE #{TimeEntry.table_name}.issue_id = #{Issue.table_name}.id)",
         :default_order => 'desc',
         :caption => :label_spent_time
       )