diff --git a/config/allconfig/allconfig.go b/config/allconfig/allconfig.go
index ade7ea1be..abb955546 100644
--- a/config/allconfig/allconfig.go
+++ b/config/allconfig/allconfig.go
@@ -729,8 +729,8 @@ func fromLoadConfigResult(fs afero.Fs, logger loggers.Logger, res config.LoadCon
 					isMultiHost = true
 				}
 				mergedConfig.Set(kk, vv)
-				if cfg.IsSet(kk) {
-					rootv := cfg.Get(kk)
+				rootv := cfg.Get(kk)
+				if rootv != nil && cfg.IsSet(kk) {
 					// This overrides a root key and potentially needs a merge.
 					if !reflect.DeepEqual(rootv, vv) {
 						switch vvv := vv.(type) {
diff --git a/hugolib/config_test.go b/hugolib/config_test.go
index a8e3b8f2c..edb6b793e 100644
--- a/hugolib/config_test.go
+++ b/hugolib/config_test.go
@@ -1066,3 +1066,26 @@ LanguageCode: {{ .Site.LanguageCode }}|{{ site.Language.LanguageCode }}|
 	b.AssertFileContent("public/index.html", "LanguageCode: en-US|en-US|")
 
 }
+
+// Issue 11047
+func TestConfigYamlNil(t *testing.T) {
+	t.Parallel()
+
+	files := `
+-- hugo.yaml --
+params:
+-- layouts/index.html --
+Foo: {{ site.Params.foo }}|
+
+	
+`
+	b := NewIntegrationTestBuilder(
+		IntegrationTestConfig{
+			T:           t,
+			TxtarString: files,
+		},
+	).Build()
+
+	b.AssertFileContent("public/index.html", "Foo: |")
+
+}