diff --git a/src/Microsoft.Content.Build.Code2Yaml.Steps/GenerateServiceMappingFile.cs b/src/Microsoft.Content.Build.Code2Yaml.Steps/GenerateServiceMappingFile.cs
index c062863..160a695 100644
--- a/src/Microsoft.Content.Build.Code2Yaml.Steps/GenerateServiceMappingFile.cs
+++ b/src/Microsoft.Content.Build.Code2Yaml.Steps/GenerateServiceMappingFile.cs
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ select g
                     var oldservices = (from m in oldMapping[0].items
                                        from sm in m.items ?? Enumerable.Empty<ServiceMappingItem>()
                                        select new { SM = sm, Name = m.name }
-                                       ).ToDictionary(i => new ServiceCategory { Service = i.Name, Category = i.SM.name }, i => i.SM.children.ToList());
+                                       ).ToDictionary(i => new ServiceCategory { Service = i.Name, Category = i.SM.name }, i => i.SM.children?.ToList() ?? new List<string>());
                     Merge(newservices, oldservices);
                     var other = oldMapping[0].items.SingleOrDefault(i => i.name == "Other");
                     if (other != null)