diff --git a/src/etc/inc/gwlb.inc b/src/etc/inc/gwlb.inc
index 5f3ae02c2a..588a750ce8 100644
--- a/src/etc/inc/gwlb.inc
+++ b/src/etc/inc/gwlb.inc
@@ -1180,6 +1180,9 @@ function get_gwgroup_members_inner($group, $gateways_status, $gateways_arr, $vip
 	$backupplan = array();
 	$gwvip_arr = array();
 	foreach ($group['item'] as $item) {
+		if (empty($gwname)) {
+			continue;
+		}
 		list($gwname, $tier, $vipname) = explode("|", $item);
 
 		if (is_ipaddr($viplist[$vipname])) {