diff --git a/course/topics.php b/course/topics.php
index a91cd48063b..7f2970d737f 100644
--- a/course/topics.php
+++ b/course/topics.php
@@ -146,7 +146,10 @@
 
         echo "<TD VALIGN=top $colormain WIDTH=\"100%\">";
 
-        if (! $thissection = $sections[$section]) {
+        if (!empty($sections[$section])) {
+            $thissection = $sections[$section];
+
+        } else {
             $thissection->course = $course->id;   // Create a new section structure
             $thissection->section = $section;
             $thissection->summary = "";
diff --git a/course/weeks.php b/course/weeks.php
index dbcfaf283d2..b76b7b764ea 100644
--- a/course/weeks.php
+++ b/course/weeks.php
@@ -147,7 +147,9 @@
         echo "<TD $colormain VALIGN=top WIDTH=\"100%\">";
         echo "<P><FONT SIZE=3 COLOR=\"$THEME->cellheading2\">$weekday - $endweekday</FONT></P>";
 
-        if (! $thisweek = $sections[$week]) {
+        if (!empty($sections[$week])) {
+            $thisweek = $sections[$week];
+        } else {
             $thisweek->course = $course->id;   // Create a new week structure
             $thisweek->section = $week;
             $thisweek->summary = "";