diff --git a/src/Core/Config/Adapter/PreloadConfigAdapter.php b/src/Core/Config/Adapter/PreloadConfigAdapter.php
index d4ce6406b4..218648cbdb 100644
--- a/src/Core/Config/Adapter/PreloadConfigAdapter.php
+++ b/src/Core/Config/Adapter/PreloadConfigAdapter.php
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ class PreloadConfigAdapter extends AbstractDbaConfigAdapter implements IConfigAd
 			$value = $config['v'];
 			if (isset($value) && $value !== '') {
 				$return[$config['cat']][$config['k']] = $value;
+			} else {
+				$return[$config['cat']][$config['k']] = '!<unset>!';
 			}
 		}
 		DBA::close($configs);
diff --git a/src/Core/Config/Adapter/PreloadPConfigAdapter.php b/src/Core/Config/Adapter/PreloadPConfigAdapter.php
index 090d0f5c6f..5c736b2fff 100644
--- a/src/Core/Config/Adapter/PreloadPConfigAdapter.php
+++ b/src/Core/Config/Adapter/PreloadPConfigAdapter.php
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ class PreloadPConfigAdapter extends AbstractDbaConfigAdapter implements IPConfig
 			$value = $pconfig['v'];
 			if (isset($value) && $value !== '') {
 				$return[$pconfig['cat']][$pconfig['k']] = $value;
+			} else {
+				$return[$pconfig['cat']][$pconfig['k']] = '!<unset>!';
 			}
 		}
 		DBA::close($pconfigs);