diff --git a/api/data_explorer/controllers/facets_controller.py b/api/data_explorer/controllers/facets_controller.py
index 15d77187..119dc3b4 100644
--- a/api/data_explorer/controllers/facets_controller.py
+++ b/api/data_explorer/controllers/facets_controller.py
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ def deserialize(filter_arr):
     A facet_name may be repeated if multiple filters are desired.
     :return: A dict of facet_name:[facet_value] mappings.
     """
-    if not filter_arr:
+    if not filter_arr or filter_arr == [""]:
         return {}
     parsed_filter = {}
     # filter_str looks like "Gender=male"
diff --git a/ui/src/App.js b/ui/src/App.js
index d016dcb5..1a3aa544 100644
--- a/ui/src/App.js
+++ b/ui/src/App.js
@@ -94,7 +94,13 @@ class App extends Component {
             // Remove facetValue from the list of filters for facetName
             this.filterMap.set(facetName, this.removeFacet(currentFacetValues, facetValue));
         }
-        this.facetsApi.facetsGet({filter: this.filterMapToArray(this.filterMap)}, this.facetsCallback);
+        
+        let filterArray = this.filterMapToArray(this.filterMap);
+        if (filterArray) {
+            this.facetsApi.facetsGet({filter: filterArray}, this.facetsCallback);
+        } else {
+            this.facetsApi.facetsGet({}, this.facetsCallback)
+        }
     }
 
     removeFacet(valueList, facetValue) {