diff --git a/libs/ardour/ardour/export_format_specification.h b/libs/ardour/ardour/export_format_specification.h
index ed6e259644..dfc846f16a 100644
--- a/libs/ardour/ardour/export_format_specification.h
+++ b/libs/ardour/ardour/export_format_specification.h
@@ -114,11 +114,47 @@ class LIBARDOUR_API ExportFormatSpecification : public ExportFormatBase {
 	std::string format_name () const { return _format_name; }
 
 	Type type () const { return _type; }
-	FormatId format_id () const { return *format_ids.begin(); }
-	Endianness endianness () const { return *endiannesses.begin(); }
-	SampleFormat sample_format () const { return *sample_formats.begin(); }
-	SampleRate sample_rate () const { return *sample_rates.begin(); }
-	Quality quality () const { return *qualities.begin(); }
+	
+    FormatId format_id () const
+    {
+        if (!format_ids.empty() )
+            return *format_ids.begin();
+        else
+            return FormatId(0);
+    }
+    
+	Endianness endianness () const
+    {
+        if (!endiannesses.empty() )
+            return *endiannesses.begin();
+        else
+            return Endianness(0);
+    }
+    
+	SampleFormat sample_format () const
+    {
+        if (!sample_formats.empty() )
+            return *sample_formats.begin();
+        else
+            return SampleFormat(0);
+    }
+    
+	SampleRate sample_rate () const
+    {
+        if (!sample_rates.empty() )
+            return *sample_rates.begin();
+        else
+            return SampleRate(0);
+        
+    }
+    
+	Quality quality () const
+    {
+        if (!qualities.empty() )
+            return *qualities.begin();
+        else
+            return Quality(0);
+    }
 
 	DitherType dither_type () const { return _dither_type; }
 	SRCQuality src_quality () const { return _src_quality; }