diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/common/25-status.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/common/25-status.js
index 8c56e2030..c494883b7 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/common/25-status.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/nodes/core/common/25-status.js
@@ -20,13 +20,15 @@ module.exports = function(RED) {
     function StatusNode(n) {
         RED.nodes.createNode(this,n);
         var node = this;
-        this.scope = n.scope || [];
+        this.scope = n.scope;
 
         // auto-filter out any directly connected nodes to avoid simple loopback
-        const w = this.wires.flat();
-        for (let i=0; i < this.scope.length; i++) {
-            if (w.includes(this.scope[i])) {
-                this.scope.splice(i, 1);
+        if (Array.isArray(this.scope)) {
+            const w = this.wires.flat();
+            for (let i = 0; i < this.scope.length; i++) {
+                if (w.includes(this.scope[i])) {
+                    this.scope.splice(i, 1);
+                }
             }
         }