diff --git a/backup-config/backup.cgi b/backup-config/backup.cgi
index 709654917..059cb7d5a 100755
--- a/backup-config/backup.cgi
+++ b/backup-config/backup.cgi
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ our (%in, %text, %config, $module_config_file);
 &error_setup($text{'backup_err'});
 my $dest = &parse_backup_destination("dest", \%in);
 my ($configfile, $nofiles, $others) = &parse_backup_what("what", \%in);
+$others ||= "";
 my @mods = split(/\0/, $in{'mods'});
 @mods || ($nofiles && !$configfile) || &error($text{'backup_emods'});