diff --git a/ai/classes/manager.php b/ai/classes/manager.php
index 6825d315a89..1df7fff75be 100644
--- a/ai/classes/manager.php
+++ b/ai/classes/manager.php
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ class manager {
         $provider = new $classname(
             enabled: $enabled,
             name: $name,
-            config: $config ? json_encode($config) : '',
+            config: json_encode($config ?? []),
         );
 
         $id = $this->db->insert_record('ai_providers', $provider->to_record());
diff --git a/ai/provider/openai/tests/provider_test.php b/ai/provider/openai/tests/provider_test.php
index 93f08c89993..60da8d1704b 100644
--- a/ai/provider/openai/tests/provider_test.php
+++ b/ai/provider/openai/tests/provider_test.php
@@ -41,11 +41,9 @@ final class provider_test extends \advanced_testcase {
 
         // Create the provider instance.
         $this->manager = \core\di::get(\core_ai\manager::class);
-        $config = ['data' => 'goeshere'];
         $this->provider = $this->manager->create_provider_instance(
             classname: '\aiprovider_openai\provider',
             name: 'dummy',
-            config: $config,
         );
     }