diff --git a/src/settings/template.ts b/src/settings/template.ts
index a234be1..d4845e5 100644
--- a/src/settings/template.ts
+++ b/src/settings/template.ts
@@ -120,6 +120,9 @@ function formatDateFunc() {
     // get the date and format from the text
     const [dateVariable, format] = text.split(",", 2);
     const date = render(dateVariable);
+    if (!date) {
+      return "";
+    }
     // format the date
     return formatDate(date, format);
   };