diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/Services/SectionService.cs b/src/Umbraco.Core/Services/SectionService.cs
index b12412b5f2..02c0b8c14a 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Core/Services/SectionService.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Core/Services/SectionService.cs
@@ -211,7 +211,9 @@ namespace Umbraco.Core.Services
         /// <param name="icon">The application icon, which has to be located in umbraco/images/tray folder.</param>
         public void MakeNew(string name, string alias, string icon)
         {
-            MakeNew(name, alias, icon, GetSections().Max(x => x.SortOrder) + 1);
+            var sections = GetSections();
+            var nextSortOrder = sections != null ? GetSections().Max(x => x.SortOrder) + 1 : 1;
+            MakeNew(name, alias, icon, nextSortOrder);
         }
 
         /// <summary>
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Tests/Services/SectionServiceTests.cs b/src/Umbraco.Tests/Services/SectionServiceTests.cs
index 5c51233892..556203bb61 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Tests/Services/SectionServiceTests.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Tests/Services/SectionServiceTests.cs
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ namespace Umbraco.Tests.Services
             ServiceContext.SectionService.MakeNew("Settings", "settings", "icon-settings");
             ServiceContext.SectionService.MakeNew("Developer", "developer", "icon-developer");
         }
+
         [Test]
         public void SectionService_Can_Get_Allowed_Sections_For_User()
         {