diff --git a/lib/classes/update/checker.php b/lib/classes/update/checker.php
index 3ec3f9886b6..d9f207c24b7 100644
--- a/lib/classes/update/checker.php
+++ b/lib/classes/update/checker.php
@@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ class checker {
         global $CFG;
 
         if (empty($changes)) {
-            return;
+            return array();
         }
 
         $notifications = array();