diff --git a/src/components/metadataEditor/personEditor.js b/src/components/metadataEditor/personEditor.js
index 5120a2b8c..fc78c344d 100644
--- a/src/components/metadataEditor/personEditor.js
+++ b/src/components/metadataEditor/personEditor.js
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ function show(person) {
             }
         });
 
-        let selectPersonTypeOptions = '<option value=""></option>';
+        let selectPersonTypeOptions = '';
         for (const type of Object.values(PersonKind)) {
             if (type === PersonKind.Unknown) {
                 continue;