diff --git a/app/views/institutions/_institution_fields.html.erb b/app/views/institutions/_institution_fields.html.erb
index f91af5bc7c..d423d60cdd 100644
--- a/app/views/institutions/_institution_fields.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/institutions/_institution_fields.html.erb
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
         </div>
         <div class="form-group">
           <%= f.label :country -%>
-          <%= f.text_field :country, value: CountryCodes.country(institution.country), :class=>"form-control" -%>
+          <%= f.text_field :country, value: institution.nil? ? nil:CountryCodes.country(institution.country), :class=>"form-control" -%>
         </div>
 
         <div class="form-group">