diff --git a/course/format/classes/stateactions.php b/course/format/classes/stateactions.php
index c0a35a1945599..7927ea4921fce 100644
--- a/course/format/classes/stateactions.php
+++ b/course/format/classes/stateactions.php
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ public function section_add(
         $maxsections = $format->get_max_sections();
 
         if ($lastsectionnumber >= $maxsections) {
-            throw new moodle_exception('maxsectionslimit', 'moodle', $maxsections);
+            throw new moodle_exception('maxsectionslimit', 'moodle', '', $maxsections);
         }
 
         $modinfo = get_fast_modinfo($course);