diff --git a/src/Settings.php b/src/Settings.php
index 52c4c06..0d0089a 100644
--- a/src/Settings.php
+++ b/src/Settings.php
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ class Settings implements \Iterator, \Countable
 	
 			// load local config without merging - we need it here for the mode
 			$conf = $this->buildFileName();
-			$localConf = false;
+			$localConf = [];
 			if (file_exists($conf)) $localConf = require($conf);
 	
 			// if a mode was set in the constructor do not overwrite it