diff --git a/apps/files/lib/Controller/ViewController.php b/apps/files/lib/Controller/ViewController.php
index 0a13af3233156..0655718f8c148 100644
--- a/apps/files/lib/Controller/ViewController.php
+++ b/apps/files/lib/Controller/ViewController.php
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ public function index($dir = '', $view = '', $fileid = null, $fileNotFound = fal
 		try {
 			$favElements = $this->activityHelper->getFavoriteFilePaths($this->userSession->getUser()->getUID());
 		} catch (\RuntimeException $e) {
-			$favElements['folders'] = null;
+			$favElements['folders'] = [];
 		}
 
 		$collapseClasses = '';