diff --git a/webservice/lib.php b/webservice/lib.php
index d5a0070f343..98d452f13aa 100644
--- a/webservice/lib.php
+++ b/webservice/lib.php
@@ -904,7 +904,7 @@ class webservice_access_exception extends moodle_exception {
 function webservice_protocol_is_enabled($protocol) {
     global $CFG;
 
-    if (empty($CFG->enablewebservices)) {
+    if (empty($CFG->enablewebservices) || empty($CFG->webserviceprotocols)) {
         return false;
     }