diff --git a/library/includes/page_header.php b/library/includes/page_header.php
index f2f22581b..a008c2ac2 100644
--- a/library/includes/page_header.php
+++ b/library/includes/page_header.php
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ $template->assign_vars([
 
     'USE_TABLESORTER' => !empty($page_cfg['use_tablesorter']),
     'ALLOW_ROBOTS' => !$bb_cfg['board_disable'] && (!isset($page_cfg['allow_robots']) || $page_cfg['allow_robots'] === true),
-    'META_DESCRIPTION' => $page_cfg['meta_description'] ?? '',
+    'META_DESCRIPTION' => $page_cfg['meta_description'] ?? $bb_cfg['site_desc'],
 
     'SITENAME' => $bb_cfg['sitename'],
     'U_INDEX' => BB_ROOT . 'index.php',