diff --git a/Civi/Core/Locale.php b/Civi/Core/Locale.php
index cb3571e9adf9..cd5d711821cd 100644
--- a/Civi/Core/Locale.php
+++ b/Civi/Core/Locale.php
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ public function apply(): Locale {
   public function renegotiate(array $availableLocales): ?Locale {
     $fallbacks = array_merge(
       // We'd like to stay in the active locale (or something closely related)
-      static::getLocalePrecedence($this->nominal),
+      ($this->nominal ? static::getLocalePrecedence($this->nominal) : []),
       // If we can't, then try the system locale (or something closely related)
       static::getLocalePrecedence(\Civi::settings()->get('lcMessages'))
     );