diff --git a/hub/kojihub.py b/hub/kojihub.py
index 74f8670a..964acb67 100644
--- a/hub/kojihub.py
+++ b/hub/kojihub.py
@@ -8383,7 +8383,7 @@ def get_notification_recipients(build, tag_id, state):
         #   using all package owners from all tags would be way overkill.
 
     if not recipients:
-        return None
+        return []
 
     # apply the out outs
     user_ids = list(set([r['user_id'] for r in recipients]))