diff --git a/e107_handlers/form_handler.php b/e107_handlers/form_handler.php
index d001c43ba..59e4d4e42 100644
--- a/e107_handlers/form_handler.php
+++ b/e107_handlers/form_handler.php
@@ -3487,6 +3487,12 @@ var_dump($select_options);*/
 
 		$opts = $options;
 
+
+		if($selected === array(0=>'')) // quick fix. @see github issue #4609
+		{
+			$selected = 0;
+		}
+
 		foreach ((array) $option_array as $value => $label)
 		{
 
@@ -6740,7 +6746,7 @@ var_dump($select_options);*/
 					$eloptions['multiple'] = true;
 				}
 				unset($parms['__options']);
-				if(!empty($eloptions['multiple']) && !is_array($value))
+				if(!empty($eloptions['multiple']) && !is_array($value) && !empty($value))
 				{
 					$value = explode(',', $value);
 				}
diff --git a/e107_tests/tests/unit/e_formTest.php b/e107_tests/tests/unit/e_formTest.php
index 6f858246a..68f707c00 100644
--- a/e107_tests/tests/unit/e_formTest.php
+++ b/e107_tests/tests/unit/e_formTest.php
@@ -790,11 +790,11 @@ class e_formTest extends \Codeception\Test\Unit
 
 		);
 
-		foreach($tests as $row)
+		foreach($tests as $index => $row)
 		{
 			$actual = $this->_frm->option_multi($row['options'],$row['value']);
 			$actual = str_replace("\n", '', $actual);
-			$this->assertSame($row['expected'], $actual);
+			$this->assertSame($row['expected'], $actual, 'Test #'.$index.' failed');
 		}
 
 	}