diff --git a/src/dcmstack/extract.py b/src/dcmstack/extract.py
index 38142d0..0d3059b 100644
--- a/src/dcmstack/extract.py
+++ b/src/dcmstack/extract.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
     from collections import OrderedDict
 except ImportError:
     from ordereddict import OrderedDict
-    
+
 try:
     import pydicom
     from pydicom.datadict import keyword_for_tag
@@ -410,7 +410,9 @@ def _get_elem_value(self, elem):
         else:
             #Otherwise, just take a copy if the value is a list
             n_vals = elem.VM
-            if n_vals > 1:
+            if n_vals == 0:
+                return None
+            elif n_vals > 1:
                 value = elem.value[:]
             else:
                 value = elem.value
diff --git a/test/test_extract.py b/test/test_extract.py
index ea54429..4d2edad 100644
--- a/test/test_extract.py
+++ b/test/test_extract.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ def test_parse_phx_line(self):
         assert extract._parse_phoenix_line("test = 0x2") == ('test', 2)
         assert extract._parse_phoenix_line("test = 2.") == ('test', 2.0)
 
-        
+
         with pytest.raises(extract.PhoenixParseError):
             extract._parse_phoenix_line('test = blah')
         with pytest.raises(extract.PhoenixParseError):
@@ -89,7 +89,9 @@ def test_get_elem_value(self):
         extractor = extract.MetaExtractor(ignore_rules=ignore_rules)
         for elem in self.data:
             value = extractor._get_elem_value(elem)
-            if elem.VM > 1:
+            if elem.VM == 0:
+                assert(value is None)
+            elif elem.VM > 1:
                 assert(isinstance(value, list))
             if elem.VR in list(extract.unpack_vr_map) + ['DS', 'IS']:
                 if elem.VM == 1: