diff --git a/system/core/Config.php b/system/core/Config.php
index 245f44bb2..761441233 100644
--- a/system/core/Config.php
+++ b/system/core/Config.php
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ class CI_Config {
 	 */
 	public function local_url($uri = '', $protocol = NULL)
 	{
-		$local_url = $this->slash_item('local_url');
+		$local_url = $this->slash_item('local_url') ?? $this->slash_item('base_url');
 		if (isset($protocol))
 		{
 			// For protocol-relative links
diff --git a/system/helpers/url_helper.php b/system/helpers/url_helper.php
index 89e90b588..8b2eb1806 100644
--- a/system/helpers/url_helper.php
+++ b/system/helpers/url_helper.php
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ if ( ! function_exists('local_url'))
 
 	 function local_url($uri = '', $protocol = NULL)
 	 {
-		return get_instance()->config->local_url($uri, $protocol) ?? get_instance()->config->base_url($uri, $protocol);
+		return get_instance()->config->local_url($uri, $protocol);
 	 }
 }