diff --git a/blocks/rss_client/backup/moodle2/restore_rss_client_stepslib.php b/blocks/rss_client/backup/moodle2/restore_rss_client_stepslib.php
index 8e28ac29ee9..c23d7b970c4 100644
--- a/blocks/rss_client/backup/moodle2/restore_rss_client_stepslib.php
+++ b/blocks/rss_client/backup/moodle2/restore_rss_client_stepslib.php
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ class restore_rss_client_block_structure_step extends restore_structure_step {
         $configdata = $DB->get_field('block_instances', 'configdata', array('id' => $this->task->get_blockid()));
         // Extract configdata
         $config = unserialize(base64_decode($configdata));
+        if (empty($config)) {
+            $config = new stdClass();
+        }
         // Set array of used rss feeds
         $config->rssid = $feedsarr;
         // Serialize back the configdata