diff --git a/lib/outputcomponents.php b/lib/outputcomponents.php
index c339f5db57d..505e04d4d85 100644
--- a/lib/outputcomponents.php
+++ b/lib/outputcomponents.php
@@ -3251,6 +3251,9 @@ class initials_bar implements renderable, templatable {
             if ($letter == $this->current) {
                 $groupletter->selected = $this->current;
             }
+            if (!isset($data->group[$groupnumber])) {
+                $data->group[$groupnumber] = new stdClass();
+            }
             $data->group[$groupnumber]->letter[] = $groupletter;
         }
 
diff --git a/mod/assign/locallib.php b/mod/assign/locallib.php
index 25995a1e015..0ba0a6cfaf3 100644
--- a/mod/assign/locallib.php
+++ b/mod/assign/locallib.php
@@ -2485,6 +2485,8 @@ class assign {
      * @return array An array of userids
      */
     protected function get_grading_userid_list($cached = false, $useridlistid = '') {
+        global $SESSION;
+
         if ($cached) {
             if (empty($useridlistid)) {
                 $useridlistid = $this->get_useridlist_key_id();