diff --git a/libraries/ip_allow_deny.lib.php b/libraries/ip_allow_deny.lib.php
index 81fabc9f7f..ed22fdaa63 100644
--- a/libraries/ip_allow_deny.lib.php
+++ b/libraries/ip_allow_deny.lib.php
@@ -284,8 +284,12 @@ function PMA_allowDeny($type)
     $username  = $cfg['Server']['user'];
 
     // copy rule database
-    $rules     = $cfg['Server']['AllowDeny']['rules'];
-    if (! is_array($rules)) {
+    if (isset($cfg['Server']['AllowDeny']['rules'])) {
+        $rules     = $cfg['Server']['AllowDeny']['rules'];
+        if (! is_array($rules)) {
+            $rules = array();
+        }
+    } else {
         $rules = array();
     }