diff --git a/weed/storage/needle/volume_ttl.go b/weed/storage/needle/volume_ttl.go
index 4a169870d..179057876 100644
--- a/weed/storage/needle/volume_ttl.go
+++ b/weed/storage/needle/volume_ttl.go
@@ -69,6 +69,9 @@ func (t *TTL) ToBytes(output []byte) {
 }
 
 func (t *TTL) ToUint32() (output uint32) {
+	if t == nil || t.Count == 0 {
+		return 0
+	}
 	output = uint32(t.Count) << 8
 	output += uint32(t.Unit)
 	return output