diff --git a/lib/app_config.rb b/lib/app_config.rb
index 514ad2608..3b2648d0d 100644
--- a/lib/app_config.rb
+++ b/lib/app_config.rb
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ class AppConfig
 
 
   def self.downcase_admins
+    self.config_vars[:admins] ||= []
     self.config_vars[:admins].collect! {|admin| admin.downcase}
   end