      */
     public function get headerText():String
     {
-        return (_headerText != null) ? _headerText : dataField;
+        return (_headerText != null) ? _headerText : ((dataField) ? dataField : "");
     }
     
     /**

        // is loop-prevention logic in the scroller which may not allow the
        // width/height to be reduced if there are automatic scrollbars.
        // See ScrollerLayout/measure().
        if (grid)
            grid.setContentSize(0, 0);
        
        dispatchChangeEvent("widthChanged");
    }

            for each (var pathElement:String in labelPath)
                itemData = itemData[pathElement];

            if ((itemData != null) && (labelPath.length > 0))
                return itemData.toString();
        }
        catch(ignored:Error) { }
