diff --git a/scheme/inspector.scm b/scheme/inspector.scm
index a3c4460..c11dbdd 100644
--- a/scheme/inspector.scm
+++ b/scheme/inspector.scm
@@ -3,10 +3,14 @@
 (define (make-inspector-selection-list num-cols num-lines focus-obj)
   (let ((menu (prepare-menu focus-obj)))
     (make-select-list
-     (map (lambda (e)
+     (if (null? menu) ; the select-list must not be empty
+         (list
+          (make-unmarked-text-element
+           focus-obj #t (val-to-string focus-obj num-cols)))
+         (map (lambda (e)
 	    (make-unmarked-text-element 
 	     (cadr e) #t (layout-menu-entry num-cols e)))
-	  menu) 
+	  menu))
      num-lines)))
 
 (define (make-header focus-obj num-cols)