diff --git a/lib/db/upgradelib.php b/lib/db/upgradelib.php
index 7132985c973..c8cfe47329b 100644
--- a/lib/db/upgradelib.php
+++ b/lib/db/upgradelib.php
@@ -668,7 +668,7 @@ function upgrade_populate_default_messaging_prefs() {
         // (providers) and outputs (processors)
         foreach ($processors as $processor) {
             $preferencename = $processor->name.'_provider_'.$componentproviderbase.'_permitted';
-            if (!array_key_exists($preferencename, $defaultpreferences)) {
+            if (!isset($defaultpreferences->{$preferencename})) {
                 $setting->name = $preferencename;
                 $setting->value = 'permitted';
                 $DB->insert_record('config_plugins', $setting);
@@ -677,7 +677,7 @@ function upgrade_populate_default_messaging_prefs() {
         // for email output we also have to set MESSAGE_DEFAULT_OFFLINE + MESSAGE_DEFAULT_ONLINE
         foreach(array('loggedin', 'loggedoff') as $state) {
             $preferencename = 'message_provider_'.$componentproviderbase.'_'.$state;
-            if (!array_key_exists($preferencename, $defaultpreferences)) {
+            if (!isset($defaultpreferences->{$preferencename})) {
                 $setting->name = $preferencename;
                 $setting->value = 'email';
                 // except instant message where default for popup should be
diff --git a/lib/messagelib.php b/lib/messagelib.php
index a2e9bc99589..1d29a0c8889 100644
--- a/lib/messagelib.php
+++ b/lib/messagelib.php
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ function message_send($eventdata) {
     foreach ($processors as $processor) {
         // First find out permissions
         $defaultpreference = $processor->name.'_provider_'.$preferencebase.'_permitted';
-        if (array_key_exists($defaultpreference, $defaultpreferences)) {
+        if (isset($defaultpreferences->{$defaultpreference})) {
             $permitted = $defaultpreferences->{$defaultpreference};
         } else {
             //MDL-25114 They supplied an $eventdata->component $eventdata->name combination which doesn't
@@ -143,13 +143,13 @@ function message_send($eventdata) {
             // We force messages for this processor, so use this processor unconditionally if user has configured it
             $processorlist[] = $processor->name;
         } else if ($permitted == 'permitted' && $userisconfigured) {
-            // User settings are permitted, see if user set any, othervice use site default ones
+            // User settings are permitted, see if user set any, otherwise use site default ones
             $userpreferencename = 'message_provider_'.$preferencebase.'_'.$userstate;
             if ($userpreference = get_user_preferences($userpreferencename, null, $eventdata->userto->id)) {
                 if (in_array($processor->name, explode(',', $userpreference))) {
                     $processorlist[] = $processor->name;
                 }
-            } else if (array_key_exists($userpreferencename, $defaultpreferences)) {
+            } else if (isset($defaultpreferences->{$userpreferencename})) {
                 if (in_array($processor->name, explode(',', $defaultpreferences->{$userpreferencename}))) {
                     $processorlist[] = $processor->name;
                 }
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ function message_set_default_message_preference($component, $messagename, $filep
     foreach ($processors as $processor) {
         $preferencename = $processor->name.'_provider_'.$componentproviderbase.'_permitted';
         // if we do not have this setting yet, set it
-        if (!array_key_exists($preferencename, $defaultpreferences)) {
+        if (!isset($defaultpreferences->{$preferencename})) {
             // determine plugin default settings
             $plugindefault = 0;
             if (isset($fileprovider['defaults'][$processor->name])) {
diff --git a/message/lib.php b/message/lib.php
index 240f829a9f3..14b36bd2731 100644
--- a/message/lib.php
+++ b/message/lib.php
@@ -2301,7 +2301,7 @@ function get_message_processors($ready = false) {
 function get_message_output_default_preferences() {
     $preferences = get_config('message');
     if (!$preferences) {
-        $preferences = (object) array();
+        $preferences = new stdClass();
     }
     return $preferences;
 }
diff --git a/message/renderer.php b/message/renderer.php
index 76f0bdf990e..bf24fa1aeb0 100644
--- a/message/renderer.php
+++ b/message/renderer.php
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ class core_message_renderer extends plugin_renderer_base {
                     // determine the default setting
                     $permitted = MESSAGE_DEFAULT_PERMITTED;
                     $defaultpreference = $processor->name.'_provider_'.$preferencebase.'_permitted';
-                    if (array_key_exists($defaultpreference, $defaultpreferences)) {
+                    if (isset($defaultpreferences->{$defaultpreference})) {
                         $permitted = $defaultpreferences->{$defaultpreference};
                     }
                     // If settings are disallowed, just display the message that
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ class core_message_renderer extends plugin_renderer_base {
                             } else {
                                 // User has not set this preference yet, using site default preferences set by admin
                                 $defaultpreference = 'message_provider_'.$preferencebase.'_'.$state;
-                                if (array_key_exists($defaultpreference, $defaultpreferences)) {
+                                if (isset($defaultpreferences->{$defaultpreference})) {
                                     $checked = (int)in_array($processor->name, explode(',', $defaultpreferences->{$defaultpreference}));
                                 }
                             }