diff --git a/vip-helpers/vip-roles.php b/vip-helpers/vip-roles.php
index 0b42a3dd65..911245dad9 100644
--- a/vip-helpers/vip-roles.php
+++ b/vip-helpers/vip-roles.php
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@ function wpcom_vip_get_role_caps( $role ) {
  * @param array $capabilities Key/value array of capabilities for the role
  */
 function wpcom_vip_add_role( $role, $name, $capabilities ) {
+	if ( ! is_array( $capabilities ) ) {
+		$capabilities = array();
+	}
+	
 	if ( array_is_list( $capabilities ) && ! array_filter( $capabilities, 'is_bool' ) ) {
 		$capabilities = array_flip( $capabilities );
 		$capabilities = array_map( '__return_true', $capabilities );