diff --git a/sc/source/core/data/queryevaluator.cxx b/sc/source/core/data/queryevaluator.cxx
index 4e35eeffcd62..d0b30a9942fd 100644
--- a/sc/source/core/data/queryevaluator.cxx
+++ b/sc/source/core/data/queryevaluator.cxx
@@ -491,8 +491,9 @@ std::pair<bool, bool> ScQueryEvaluator::compareByString(const ScQueryEntry& rEnt
                     const rtl_uString* pQuer = rItem.maString.getDataIgnoreCase();
                     const rtl_uString* pCellStr = rSource.getDataIgnoreCase();
 
-                    assert(pQuer != nullptr);
                     assert(pCellStr != nullptr);
+                    if (pQuer == nullptr)
+                        pQuer = svl::SharedString::getEmptyString().getDataIgnoreCase();
 
                     const sal_Int32 nIndex
                         = (rEntry.eOp == SC_ENDS_WITH || rEntry.eOp == SC_DOES_NOT_END_WITH)