diff --git a/src/regionModels/surfaceFilmModels/submodels/subModelBase.C b/src/regionModels/surfaceFilmModels/submodels/subModelBase.C
index 469b62e855599055e2ebd7daee86ed27a00bd7e7..b2283172b39c913783fdc84fea23aa0d2e7f211d 100644
--- a/src/regionModels/surfaceFilmModels/submodels/subModelBase.C
+++ b/src/regionModels/surfaceFilmModels/submodels/subModelBase.C
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   =========                 |
   \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
    \\    /   O peration     |
-    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011 OpenFOAM Foundation
+    \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 2011-2012 OpenFOAM Foundation
      \\/     M anipulation  |
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 License
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ subModelBase::subModelBase
 )
 :
     owner_(owner),
-    coeffs_(dict.subDict(type + "Coeffs"))
+    coeffs_(dict.subOrEmptyDict(type + "Coeffs"))
 {}