diff --git a/app/models/exported_plan.rb b/app/models/exported_plan.rb
index 9fdbf97..5684072 100644
--- a/app/models/exported_plan.rb
+++ b/app/models/exported_plan.rb
@@ -80,7 +80,8 @@
   end
 
   def sections
-    sections = Phase.find(self.phase_id).sections
+    phase_id = self.phase_id ||= self.plan.template.phases.first.id # Use the first phase if none was specified
+    sections = Phase.find(phase_id).sections
     sections.sort_by(&:number)
   end