diff --git a/bin/addons/base/ir/ir_ui_menu.py b/bin/addons/base/ir/ir_ui_menu.py
index 8696df80311..e769c117b62 100644
--- a/bin/addons/base/ir/ir_ui_menu.py
+++ b/bin/addons/base/ir/ir_ui_menu.py
@@ -257,8 +257,10 @@ class ir_ui_menu(osv.osv):
     def read_image(self, path):
         path_info = path.split(',')
         icon_path = addons.get_module_resource(path_info[0],path_info[1])
-        icon = tools.file_open(icon_path,'rb').read()
-        return base64.encodestring(icon)
+        if icon_path:
+            icon = tools.file_open(icon_path,'rb').read()
+            icon_image = base64.encodestring(icon)
+        return icon_image
 
     def _get_image_icon(self, cr, uid, ids, name, args, context=None):
         res = {}