diff --git a/C4/Context.pm b/C4/Context.pm
index 35c5025745..6406f340ec 100644
--- a/C4/Context.pm
+++ b/C4/Context.pm
@@ -348,6 +348,8 @@ sub yaml_preference {
         return;
     }
 
+    # TODO Remove next line when enforced elsewhere
+    if( $yaml && lc($preference) eq 'itemsdeniedrenewal' and ref($yaml) ne 'HASH' ) { warn "Hashref expected for $preference"; return; }
     return $yaml;
 }
 
diff --git a/t/Context.t b/t/Context.t
index b2091f0f96..e8115df8f0 100755
--- a/t/Context.t
+++ b/t/Context.t
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ BEGIN {
 
 subtest 'yaml_preference() tests' => sub {
 
-    plan tests => 3;
+    plan tests => 6;
 
     my $data = [ 'uno', 'dos', { 'tres' => 'cuatro' } ];
 
@@ -49,6 +49,12 @@ subtest 'yaml_preference() tests' => sub {
         'Invalid YAML on syspref throws a warning';
     is( $pref, undef, 'Invalid YAML on syspref makes it return undef' );
 
+    $context->mock( 'preference', sub { return '{ a : 1 }' });
+    is( ref( C4::Context->new->yaml_preference('ItemsDeniedRenewal') ), 'HASH', 'Got a hash as expected' );
+    $context->mock( 'preference', sub { return '[ 1, 2 ]' });
+    warning_like { $pref = C4::Context->new->yaml_preference('ITEMSDENIEDRENEWAL') } qr/Hashref expected/, 'Array not accepted for ItemsDeniedRenewal';
+    is( $pref, undef, 'Returned undef' );
+
     $context->unmock( 'preference' );
 };