diff --git a/client/src/components/vbox.component.jsx b/client/src/components/vbox.component.jsx
index db4937f3..1552a2b2 100644
--- a/client/src/components/vbox.component.jsx
+++ b/client/src/components/vbox.component.jsx
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@ const preact = require('preact');
 const range = require('lodash/range');
 
 function convertVar(v) {
-    return v || '';
-    // uncomment for double borders in vbox
+    return v || <span>&nbsp;</span>;
+    // uncomment for double borders in vbox;
     // if (v) {
     //     return <div>{v}</div>;
     // }