diff --git a/lib/tasks/transcribe.js b/lib/tasks/transcribe.js
index 241a6ab3..d21c8200 100644
--- a/lib/tasks/transcribe.js
+++ b/lib/tasks/transcribe.js
@@ -47,6 +47,8 @@ class TaskTranscribe extends Task {
       this.interim = !!recognizer.interim;
       this.separateRecognitionPerChannel = recognizer.separateRecognitionPerChannel;
 
+      this.data.recognizer.hints = this.data.recognizer.hints || [];
+      this.data.recognizer.altLanguages = this.data.recognizer.altLanguages || [];
     }
     else this.data.recognizer = {hints: [], altLanguages: []};