diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index d0febfd25..7bc4f37c6 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -8,3 +8,4 @@ nbactions.xml
 *.swo
 nbactions.xml
 
+.vscode/
diff --git a/rest/src/main/java/org/n52/web/ctrl/DatasetController.java b/rest/src/main/java/org/n52/web/ctrl/DatasetController.java
index 325e71092..ac4f6b5af 100644
--- a/rest/src/main/java/org/n52/web/ctrl/DatasetController.java
+++ b/rest/src/main/java/org/n52/web/ctrl/DatasetController.java
@@ -68,6 +68,9 @@ protected String getDescription(I18N i18n) {
 
     @Override
     protected Long getSize(IoParameters parameters) {
+        if (parameters == null) {
+            return 0L;
+        }
         return getEntityCounter().getDatasetCount(parameters);
     }