diff --git a/module/VuFind/src/VuFind/Connection/ExternalVuFind.php b/module/VuFind/src/VuFind/Connection/ExternalVuFind.php
index 2dd4fd852aa..41600cb42d5 100644
--- a/module/VuFind/src/VuFind/Connection/ExternalVuFind.php
+++ b/module/VuFind/src/VuFind/Connection/ExternalVuFind.php
@@ -119,6 +119,6 @@ public function search(
             return [];
         }
 
-        return $arr ?? [];
+        return $arr;
     }
 }