diff --git a/screening/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/openbis/plugin/screening/shared/basic/dto/WellContent.java b/screening/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/openbis/plugin/screening/shared/basic/dto/WellContent.java
index b2ee1330a3446a65015bbfd4489b5d166ba3af56..68d4a85821f9b2280d67bacff49ba42f98adaa89 100644
--- a/screening/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/openbis/plugin/screening/shared/basic/dto/WellContent.java
+++ b/screening/source/java/ch/systemsx/cisd/openbis/plugin/screening/shared/basic/dto/WellContent.java
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
 package ch.systemsx.cisd.openbis.plugin.screening.shared.basic.dto;
 
+import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.List;
 
@@ -41,7 +42,7 @@ public class WellContent implements ISerializable
 
     private EntityReference well;
 
-    private List<IEntityProperty> wellProperties = Collections.emptyList();
+    private List<IEntityProperty> wellProperties = new ArrayList<IEntityProperty>(0);
 
     private EntityReference plate;