diff --git a/lib/deja/node.rb b/lib/deja/node.rb
index 1e7a4c7..a401e49 100644
--- a/lib/deja/node.rb
+++ b/lib/deja/node.rb
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ def link(node_alias)
       if node_aliases[:form] == :singular
         instance_variable_get("@#{node_aliases[:relationship]}_#{node_aliases[:direction]}").first
       else
-        instance_variable_get("@#{node_aliases[:relationship]}_#{node_aliases[:direction]}")
+        (instance_variable_get("@#{node_aliases[:relationship]}_#{node_aliases[:direction]}") || [])
       end
     end