diff --git a/mod/assign/lib.php b/mod/assign/lib.php
index 7f8e459c47092..baa33876fae8d 100644
--- a/mod/assign/lib.php
+++ b/mod/assign/lib.php
@@ -1042,11 +1042,11 @@ function assign_user_outline($course, $user, $coursemodule, $assignment) {
     $gradingitem = $gradinginfo->items[0];
     $gradebookgrade = $gradingitem->grades[$user->id];
 
-    if (!$gradebookgrade) {
+    if (empty($gradebookgrade->str_long_grade)) {
         return null;
     }
     $result = new stdClass();
-    $result->info = get_string('outlinegrade', 'assign', $gradebookgrade->grade);
+    $result->info = get_string('outlinegrade', 'assign', $gradebookgrade->str_long_grade);
     $result->time = $gradebookgrade->dategraded;
 
     return $result;