diff --git a/src/main/java/au/org/ala/biocache/util/QueryFormatUtils.java b/src/main/java/au/org/ala/biocache/util/QueryFormatUtils.java
index 3c76d2092..dc7da196c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/au/org/ala/biocache/util/QueryFormatUtils.java
+++ b/src/main/java/au/org/ala/biocache/util/QueryFormatUtils.java
@@ -151,9 +151,9 @@ public Map[] formatSearchQuery(SpatialSearchRequestDTO searchParams, boolean for
                             addFormattedFq(new String[]{formatted[1]}, searchParams);
                         }
 
-                        //add to activeFacetMap fqs
+                        //add to activeFacetMap fqs that are not inserted by a qid, and the q of qids in fqs.
                         //do not add spatial fields
-                        if (!formatted[1].contains(spatialField + ":")) {
+                        if (originalFqs != null && i < originalFqs.length && !formatted[1].contains(spatialField + ":")) {
                             Facet facet = new Facet();
                             facet.setDisplayName(formatted[0]);
                             String[] fv = fq.split(":");