diff --git a/app/controllers/api/account.php b/app/controllers/api/account.php
index 11d67232c7..dd5ac4a2da 100644
--- a/app/controllers/api/account.php
+++ b/app/controllers/api/account.php
@@ -1356,7 +1356,7 @@ App::get('/v1/account/prefs')
     ->inject('user')
     ->action(function (Response $response, Document $user) {
 
-        $prefs = $user->getAttribute('prefs', new \stdClass());
+        $prefs = $user->getAttribute('prefs', []);
 
         $response->dynamic(new Document($prefs), Response::MODEL_PREFERENCES);
     });
diff --git a/app/controllers/api/users.php b/app/controllers/api/users.php
index 7e7e342de9..ceed901a32 100644
--- a/app/controllers/api/users.php
+++ b/app/controllers/api/users.php
@@ -457,7 +457,7 @@ App::get('/v1/users/:userId/prefs')
             throw new Exception(Exception::USER_NOT_FOUND);
         }
 
-        $prefs = $user->getAttribute('prefs', new \stdClass());
+        $prefs = $user->getAttribute('prefs', []);
 
         $response->dynamic(new Document($prefs), Response::MODEL_PREFERENCES);
     });