diff --git a/bugwarrior/services/jira.py b/bugwarrior/services/jira.py
index c99949830..46eaccdda 100644
--- a/bugwarrior/services/jira.py
+++ b/bugwarrior/services/jira.py
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ def _get_tags_from_sprints(self):
         context = self.record.copy()
         label_template = Template(self.origin['label_template'])
 
-        sprints = self.record.get('fields', {}).get(self.origin['sprint_field'], [])
+        sprints = self.record.get('fields', {}).get(self.origin['sprint_field']) or []
         for sprint in sprints:
             # Parse this big ugly string.
             sprint = _parse_sprint_string(sprint)