diff --git a/src/actors.js b/src/actors.js
index 802b0065..f495d19b 100644
--- a/src/actors.js
+++ b/src/actors.js
@@ -861,7 +861,7 @@ async function associateActors(releases, batchId) {
 	const baseActors = Object.values(baseActorsByReleaseId).flat();
 
 	if (baseActors.length === 0) {
-		return null;
+		return [];
 	}
 
 	const baseActorsBySlug = baseActors.reduce((acc, baseActor) => ({
diff --git a/src/store-releases.js b/src/store-releases.js
index f46faf98..12ae6cc2 100644
--- a/src/store-releases.js
+++ b/src/store-releases.js
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ async function storeScenes(releases) {
 	// media is more error-prone, associate separately
 	await associateReleaseMedia(releasesWithId);
 
-	if (argv.sceneActors) {
+	if (argv.sceneActors && actors) {
 		await scrapeActors(actors.map(actor => actor.name));
 	}