diff --git a/course/edit_form.php b/course/edit_form.php
index 20a010ed86b..bcb237a8739 100644
--- a/course/edit_form.php
+++ b/course/edit_form.php
@@ -126,7 +126,11 @@ class course_edit_form extends moodleform {
         $mform->addHelpButton('coursedisplay', 'coursedisplay');
         $mform->setDefault('coursedisplay', $courseconfig->coursedisplay);
 
-        for ($i = 0; $i <= $courseconfig->maxsections; $i++) {
+        $max = $courseconfig->maxsections;
+        if (!isset($max) || !is_numeric($max)) {
+            $max = 52;
+        }
+        for ($i = 0; $i <= $max; $i++) {
             $sectionmenu[$i] = "$i";
         }
         $mform->addElement('select', 'numsections', get_string('numberweeks'), $sectionmenu);
diff --git a/lib/adminlib.php b/lib/adminlib.php
index c74e55717b1..2812fef006b 100644
--- a/lib/adminlib.php
+++ b/lib/adminlib.php
@@ -3626,7 +3626,7 @@ class admin_settings_num_course_sections extends admin_setting_configselect {
     /** Lazy-load the available choices for the select box */
     public function load_choices() {
         $max = get_config('moodlecourse', 'maxsections');
-        if (empty($max)) {
+        if (!isset($max) || !is_numeric($max)) {
             $max = 52;
         }
         for ($i = 0; $i <= $max; $i++) {