diff --git a/.cliffignore b/.cliffignore
index 2cb35e72e..c4b190b53 100644
--- a/.cliffignore
+++ b/.cliffignore
@@ -3,4 +3,4 @@
 2d53efc945c7747be1755d0b66557a86bdc12cbd
 602137b65129b817811b80975a369ebde3270c6d
 4eb26ae37e1f4c82a45961517ffeb54c20200408
-1073f190135f2098b75293a62608e2c45762d5cf
+e59adce848a9e10ee5775254045cbbd915236b8b
diff --git a/index.php b/index.php
index 965378564..bc96573ee 100644
--- a/index.php
+++ b/index.php
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ $forum_name_html = $forums['forum_name_html'];
 
 $anon = GUEST_UID;
 $excluded_forums_csv = $user->get_excluded_forums(AUTH_VIEW);
+$excluded_forums_array = $excluded_forums_csv ? explode(',', $excluded_forums_csv) : [];
 $only_new = $user->opt_js['only_new'];
 
 // Validate requested category id
@@ -329,7 +330,7 @@ if ($bb_cfg['show_latest_news']) {
     $template->assign_vars(['SHOW_LATEST_NEWS' => true]);
 
     foreach ($latest_news as $news) {
-        if (in_array($news['forum_id'], $user->get_excluded_forums(AUTH_VIEW, 'array'))) {
+        if (in_array($news['forum_id'], $excluded_forums_array)) {
             continue;
         }
 
@@ -352,7 +353,7 @@ if ($bb_cfg['show_network_news']) {
     $template->assign_vars(['SHOW_NETWORK_NEWS' => true]);
 
     foreach ($network_news as $net) {
-        if (in_array($net['forum_id'], $user->get_excluded_forums(AUTH_VIEW, 'array'))) {
+        if (in_array($net['forum_id'], $excluded_forums_array)) {
             continue;
         }