diff --git a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/authority/DSpaceControlledVocabulary.java b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/authority/DSpaceControlledVocabulary.java
index 80ab0b5231b5..4e30559e1c92 100644
--- a/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/authority/DSpaceControlledVocabulary.java
+++ b/dspace-api/src/main/java/org/dspace/content/authority/DSpaceControlledVocabulary.java
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ public Choice getChoice(String authKey, String locale) {
 
     @Override
     public boolean isHierarchical() {
-        init();
+        init(null);
         return true;
     }
 
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ public Choice getParentChoice(String authorityName, String childId, String local
 
     @Override
     public Integer getPreloadLevel() {
-        init();
+        init(null);
         return preloadLevel;
     }