diff --git a/lib/phpunit/classes/base_testcase.php b/lib/phpunit/classes/base_testcase.php
index 58b64df8a67..abb7776c45e 100644
--- a/lib/phpunit/classes/base_testcase.php
+++ b/lib/phpunit/classes/base_testcase.php
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ abstract class base_testcase extends PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase {
     public static function assertTag($matcher, $actual, $message = '', $ishtml = true) {
         $dom = (new PHPUnit\Util\Xml\Loader)->load($actual, $ishtml);
         $tags = self::findNodes($dom, $matcher, $ishtml);
-        $matched = count($tags) > 0 && $tags[0] instanceof DOMNode;
+        $matched = (is_array($tags) && count($tags) > 0) && $tags[0] instanceof DOMNode;
         self::assertTrue($matched, $message);
     }
 
diff --git a/lib/phpunit/tests/basic_test.php b/lib/phpunit/tests/basic_test.php
index 53f25936142..c009f7c23a6 100644
--- a/lib/phpunit/tests/basic_test.php
+++ b/lib/phpunit/tests/basic_test.php
@@ -145,6 +145,16 @@ STRING;
         $this->testassertexecuted = false;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Test assert Tag
+     */
+    public function test_assert_tag() {
+        // This should succeed.
+        self::assertTag(['id' => 'testid'], "<div><span id='testid'></span></div>");
+        $this->expectException(\PHPUnit\Framework\ExpectationFailedException::class);
+        self::assertTag(['id' => 'testid'], "<div><div>");
+    }
+
     // Uncomment following tests to see logging of unexpected changes in global state and database.
     /*
         public function test_db_modification() {