diff --git a/blog/external_blog_edit_form.php b/blog/external_blog_edit_form.php
index bb3de693ece..1cf979b3aa6 100644
--- a/blog/external_blog_edit_form.php
+++ b/blog/external_blog_edit_form.php
@@ -98,8 +98,8 @@ class blog_edit_external_form extends moodleform {
         global $CFG, $COURSE;
         $mform =& $this->_form;
 
-        $name = trim($mform->getElementValue('name'));
-        $description = trim($mform->getElementValue('description'));
+        $name = trim($mform->getElementValue('name') ?? '');
+        $description = trim($mform->getElementValue('description') ?? '');
         $url = $mform->getElementValue('url');
 
         if (empty($name) || empty($description)) {