diff --git a/src/CoreBundle/Contao/Hooks/LoadDataContainer.php b/src/CoreBundle/Contao/Hooks/LoadDataContainer.php
index d185d94d6..64df899e6 100644
--- a/src/CoreBundle/Contao/Hooks/LoadDataContainer.php
+++ b/src/CoreBundle/Contao/Hooks/LoadDataContainer.php
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ private function handleMetaModelTable(string $tableName): void
         }
 
         $GLOBALS['TL_DCA'][$tableName] = \array_replace_recursive(
-            (array) $GLOBALS['TL_DCA']['tl_metamodel_item'],
+            (array) ($GLOBALS['TL_DCA']['tl_metamodel_item'] ?? []),
             (array) $GLOBALS['TL_DCA'][$tableName]
         );
     }