diff --git a/lib/plugins/filter/before_post_render/backtick_code_block.js b/lib/plugins/filter/before_post_render/backtick_code_block.js
index 59c2304971..07b2691ff3 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/filter/before_post_render/backtick_code_block.js
+++ b/lib/plugins/filter/before_post_render/backtick_code_block.js
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ const rLangCaption = /([^\s]+)\s*(.+)?/;
 
 function backtickCodeBlock(data) {
   const config = this.config.highlight || {};
+  const { log } = this;
   if (!config.enable) return;
   data.content = data.content.replace(rBacktick, ($0, start, $2, _args, content, end) => {
     const args = _args.split('=').shift();
@@ -35,6 +36,13 @@ function backtickCodeBlock(data) {
       }
     }
 
+    if (options.exclude_languages && Array.isArray(options.exclude_languages)) {
+      // The exclude_languages is an array
+    } else {
+      log.debug(`The highlight.exclude_languages does not work with: ${options.exclude_languages}`);
+      options.exclude_languages = [];
+    }
+
     if (args) {
       const match = rAllOptions.exec(args) || rLangCaption.exec(args);
 
@@ -50,13 +58,11 @@ function backtickCodeBlock(data) {
           }
         }
 
-        if (options.exclude_languages) {
-          if (options.exclude_languages.includes(options.lang)) {
-            // Only wrap with <pre><code class="lang"></code></pre>
-            options.wrap = false;
-            options.gutter = false;
-            options.autoDetect = false;
-          }
+        if (options.exclude_languages.includes(options.lang)) {
+          // Only wrap with <pre><code class="lang"></code></pre>
+          options.wrap = false;
+          options.gutter = false;
+          options.autoDetect = false;
         }
       }
     }