diff --git a/helper/sync-db b/helper/sync-db
index 3f92ea64..e9afdf32 100755
--- a/helper/sync-db
+++ b/helper/sync-db
@@ -125,7 +125,11 @@ sub lb_and_extra_sockets_sync {
 
     generic_enum_sync(
         $dbh,
-        { %lb_pairs, %{$extra_sockets_config} },
+        { %lb_pairs,
+          $extra_sockets_config && ref $extra_sockets_config eq 'HASH'
+            ? %{$extra_sockets_config}
+            : (),
+        },
         $usr_pref, $dom_pref, $peer_pref,
         $pref_name
     );