diff --git a/classes/admin/admin_setting_userselection.php b/classes/admin/admin_setting_userselection.php
index ff9e92a43..4bbf6e7a8 100644
--- a/classes/admin/admin_setting_userselection.php
+++ b/classes/admin/admin_setting_userselection.php
@@ -41,7 +41,12 @@ public function __construct($name, $visiblename, $description, $defaultsetting =
      * @return array The ids of the currently selected users.
      */
     public function get_setting() {
-        return explode(',', $this->config_read($this->name));
+        $setting = $this->config_read($this->name);
+        if (!$setting) {
+            return [];
+        }
+
+        return explode(',', $setting);
     }
 
     /**