diff --git a/wp-admin/includes/plugin.php b/wp-admin/includes/plugin.php
index e2e37761d8..d4029073da 100644
--- a/wp-admin/includes/plugin.php
+++ b/wp-admin/includes/plugin.php
@@ -884,7 +884,7 @@ function validate_active_plugins() {
 	}
 
 	if ( empty( $plugins ) )
-		return;
+		return array();
 
 	$invalid = array();