diff --git a/dist/vis-light.js b/dist/vis-light.js
index 277fb34d..043071b2 100644
--- a/dist/vis-light.js
+++ b/dist/vis-light.js
@@ -19227,7 +19227,7 @@ return /******/ (function(modules) { // webpackBootstrap
     }
 
     // copy group properties
-    if (this.group !== undefined) {
+    if (this.group !== undefined && this.group != "") {
       var groupObj = this.grouplist.get(this.group);
       for (var prop in groupObj) {
         if (groupObj.hasOwnProperty(prop)) {
diff --git a/dist/vis.js b/dist/vis.js
index de042440..4f6b1796 100644
--- a/dist/vis.js
+++ b/dist/vis.js
@@ -18489,7 +18489,7 @@ return /******/ (function(modules) { // webpackBootstrap
     }
 
     // copy group properties
-    if (this.group !== undefined) {
+    if (this.group !== undefined && this.group != "") {
       var groupObj = this.grouplist.get(this.group);
       for (var prop in groupObj) {
         if (groupObj.hasOwnProperty(prop)) {
diff --git a/lib/network/Node.js b/lib/network/Node.js
index 0c5eafa5..a5735f47 100644
--- a/lib/network/Node.js
+++ b/lib/network/Node.js
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ Node.prototype.setProperties = function(properties, constants) {
   }
 
   // copy group properties
-  if (this.group !== undefined) {
+  if (this.group !== undefined && this.group != "") {
     var groupObj = this.grouplist.get(this.group);
     for (var prop in groupObj) {
       if (groupObj.hasOwnProperty(prop)) {