diff --git a/application/controllers/GroupController.php b/application/controllers/GroupController.php
index 8f2c33e62..395b2f243 100644
--- a/application/controllers/GroupController.php
+++ b/application/controllers/GroupController.php
@@ -28,6 +28,10 @@ class GroupController extends AuthBackendController
             function ($b) { return $b->getName(); },
             $this->loadUserGroupBackends('Icinga\Data\Selectable')
         );
+        if (empty($backendNames)) {
+            return;
+        }
+
         $this->view->backendSelection = new Form();
         $this->view->backendSelection->setAttrib('class', 'backend-selection');
         $this->view->backendSelection->setUidDisabled();
diff --git a/application/views/scripts/group/list.phtml b/application/views/scripts/group/list.phtml
index bcd9dca93..65c1591cd 100644
--- a/application/views/scripts/group/list.phtml
+++ b/application/views/scripts/group/list.phtml
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ if (! $this->compact): ?>
 <div class="content groups">
 <?php
 
-if ($backend === null) {
+if (! isset($backend)) {
     echo $this->translate('No backend found which is able to list groups') . '</div>';
     return;
 } else {