diff --git a/inc/targetbase.class.php b/inc/targetbase.class.php
index bc65674c3..7ab2169ee 100644
--- a/inc/targetbase.class.php
+++ b/inc/targetbase.class.php
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ protected function prepareActors(PluginFormcreatorForm $form, PluginFormcreatorF
                if ($answer->isNewItem()) {
                   continue 2;
                } else {
-                  $userIds = array_filter(explode(',', trim($answer->getField('answer'))));
+                  $userIds = json_decode($answer->fields['answer'], JSON_OBJECT_AS_ARRAY);
                }
                $notify = $actor['use_notification'];
                break;
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ protected function addActor($role, $user, $notify) {
          $userId = 0;
          $alternativeEmail = $user;
       } else {
-         $userId = intval($user);
+         $userId = (int) $user;
          $alternativeEmail = '';
          if ($userId == '0') {
             // there is no actor