diff --git a/packages/addons/service/multimedia/tvheadend/source/bin/tvheadend.start b/packages/addons/service/multimedia/tvheadend/source/bin/tvheadend.start
index 8d93a13f49..f04139f328 100755
--- a/packages/addons/service/multimedia/tvheadend/source/bin/tvheadend.start
+++ b/packages/addons/service/multimedia/tvheadend/source/bin/tvheadend.start
@@ -73,6 +73,9 @@ for driver_dvb in $(find /storage/.xbmc/addons/driver.dvb.*/bin/userspace-driver
 done
 
 # (wait for) at least 1 adapter (xbmc allows to set 0)
+# xbmc allows "numeric" type field to be empty. lets handle thaat
+[ "$NUM_ADAPTERS" = "" ] && NUM_ADAPTERS=1
+# 0 does not make sense. should be 1 or more
 [ $NUM_ADAPTERS -lt 1 ] && NUM_ADAPTERS=1
 if [ "$WAIT_FOR_FEINIT" == "true" ] ; then
   while [ true ] ; do