diff --git a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/utils/StringUtils.java b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/utils/StringUtils.java
index 5f323ddf..a8348756 100755
--- a/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/utils/StringUtils.java
+++ b/qqq-backend-core/src/main/java/com/kingsrook/qqq/backend/core/utils/StringUtils.java
@@ -176,6 +176,19 @@ public class StringUtils
 
 
 
+   /*******************************************************************************
+    ** safely appends a string to another, changing empty string if either value is null
+    **
+    *******************************************************************************/
+   public static String safeAppend(String input, String contentToAppend)
+   {
+      input = input != null ? input : "";
+      contentToAppend = contentToAppend != null ? contentToAppend : "";
+      return input + contentToAppend;
+   }
+
+
+
    /*******************************************************************************
     ** returns input if not null, or nullOutput if input == null (as in SQL NVL)
     **