diff --git a/deps/rabbitmq_management/src/rabbit_mgmt_util.erl b/deps/rabbitmq_management/src/rabbit_mgmt_util.erl
index 8e187139da..aad7ad4056 100644
--- a/deps/rabbitmq_management/src/rabbit_mgmt_util.erl
+++ b/deps/rabbitmq_management/src/rabbit_mgmt_util.erl
@@ -276,6 +276,8 @@ get_sorts_param(ReqData, Def) ->
     case get_value_param(<<"sort">>, ReqData) of
         undefined ->
             Def;
+        [] ->
+            Def;
         S ->
             [S]
     end.