diff --git a/module/VuFind/src/VuFind/Search/Primo/PrimoPermissionHandler.php b/module/VuFind/src/VuFind/Search/Primo/PrimoPermissionHandler.php
index 3c646921e74357e774258c9936753112c2f9ff35..a23e438fff3b31c0520582fea8b7d31e55b667e2 100644
--- a/module/VuFind/src/VuFind/Search/Primo/PrimoPermissionHandler.php
+++ b/module/VuFind/src/VuFind/Search/Primo/PrimoPermissionHandler.php
@@ -67,8 +67,10 @@ class PrimoPermissionHandler
      */
     public function __construct($primoPermConfig)
     {
-        $this->primoConfig = is_array($primoPermConfig)
-            ? $primoPermConfig : $primoPermConfig->toArray();
+        if ($primoPermConfig instanceof \Zend\Config\Config) {
+            $primoPermConfig = $primoPermConfig->toArray();
+        }
+        $this->primoConfig = is_array($primoPermConfig) ? $primoPermConfig : [];
         $this->checkLegacySettings();
         $this->checkConfig();
     }
diff --git a/module/VuFind/tests/unit-tests/src/VuFindTest/Search/Primo/PrimoPermissionHandlerTest.php b/module/VuFind/tests/unit-tests/src/VuFindTest/Search/Primo/PrimoPermissionHandlerTest.php
index 49cf3d80c62f383a4d1fb5dce37c3885004ca525..adb7bafb9f3046f49cb5245ef8917f54a9c2548f 100644
--- a/module/VuFind/tests/unit-tests/src/VuFindTest/Search/Primo/PrimoPermissionHandlerTest.php
+++ b/module/VuFind/tests/unit-tests/src/VuFindTest/Search/Primo/PrimoPermissionHandlerTest.php
@@ -141,20 +141,13 @@ class PrimoPermissionHandlerTest extends TestCase
      * This should throw an Exception.
      *
      * @return void
+     *
+     * @expectedException Exception
+     * @expectedExceptionMessage No institutionCode found.
      */
     public function testWithoutConfig()
     {
-        // TODO: make this test work properly
-        $this->markTestSkipped();
-        try {
-            $handler = new PrimoPermissionHandler(null);
-        } catch(Exception $e){
-            $this->assertEquals(
-                "The Primo Permission System has not been configured.
-                Please configure section [Institutions] in Primo.ini.",
-                $e->getMessage()
-            );
-        }
+        new PrimoPermissionHandler(null);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -169,6 +162,20 @@ class PrimoPermissionHandlerTest extends TestCase
         $this->assertEquals(false, $handler->hasPermission());
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Test the handler without setting an authorization service.
+     * This should always return false.
+     *
+     * @return void
+     */
+    public function testWithoutAuthorizationServiceWithZendConfigObject()
+    {
+        $handler = new PrimoPermissionHandler(
+            new \Zend\Config\Config($this->primoConfig)
+        );
+        $this->assertEquals(false, $handler->hasPermission());
+    }
+
     /**
      * Test the handler code if permission matches
      * This should return the actual institution code (depending on config)