diff --git a/admin/tool/recyclebin/classes/category_bin.php b/admin/tool/recyclebin/classes/category_bin.php
index 3c18f62d5288b..18b4d8eb2c66a 100644
--- a/admin/tool/recyclebin/classes/category_bin.php
+++ b/admin/tool/recyclebin/classes/category_bin.php
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ public function store_item($course) {
         // This hack will be removed once recycle bin switches to use its own backup mode, with
         // own preferences and 100% separate from MOODLE_AUTOMATED.
         // TODO: Remove this as part of MDL-65228.
-        $forcedbackupsettings = $CFG->forced_plugin_settings['backup'] ?? null;
+        $forcedbackupsettings = $CFG->forced_plugin_settings['backup'] ?? [];
         $CFG->forced_plugin_settings['backup']['backup_auto_storage'] = 0;
         $CFG->forced_plugin_settings['backup']['backup_auto_files'] = 1;
 
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ public function restore_item($item) {
         // This hack will be removed once recycle bin switches to use its own backup mode, with
         // own preferences and 100% separate from MOODLE_AUTOMATED.
         // TODO: Remove this as part of MDL-65228.
-        $forcedrestoresettings = $CFG->forced_plugin_settings['restore'] ?? null;
+        $forcedrestoresettings = $CFG->forced_plugin_settings['restore'] ?? [];
         $CFG->forced_plugin_settings['restore']['restore_general_users'] = 1;
         $CFG->forced_plugin_settings['restore']['restore_general_groups'] = 1;
 
diff --git a/admin/tool/recyclebin/classes/course_bin.php b/admin/tool/recyclebin/classes/course_bin.php
index bfb19b4790cc0..069fef2f396d4 100644
--- a/admin/tool/recyclebin/classes/course_bin.php
+++ b/admin/tool/recyclebin/classes/course_bin.php
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ public function store_item($cm) {
         // This hack will be removed once recycle bin switches to use its own backup mode, with
         // own preferences and 100% separate from MOODLE_AUTOMATED.
         // TODO: Remove this as part of MDL-65228.
-        $forcedbackupsettings = $CFG->forced_plugin_settings['backup'] ?? null;
+        $forcedbackupsettings = $CFG->forced_plugin_settings['backup'] ?? [];
         $CFG->forced_plugin_settings['backup']['backup_auto_storage'] = 0;
         $CFG->forced_plugin_settings['backup']['backup_auto_files'] = 1;