diff --git a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/validate_file_extension.py b/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/validate_file_extension.py
index c299a47e74..b26d28a1e7 100644
--- a/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/validate_file_extension.py
+++ b/openpype/hosts/houdini/plugins/publish/validate_file_extension.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class ValidateFileExtension(pyblish.api.InstancePlugin):
         node = instance[0]
 
         # Create lookup for current family in instance
-        families = instance.data.get("families", list())
+        families = []
         family = instance.data.get("family", None)
         if family:
             families.append(family)