diff --git a/packages/ui/src/providers/Preferences/index.tsx b/packages/ui/src/providers/Preferences/index.tsx
index d0813063d6..2b3bec390d 100644
--- a/packages/ui/src/providers/Preferences/index.tsx
+++ b/packages/ui/src/providers/Preferences/index.tsx
@@ -99,7 +99,9 @@ export const PreferencesProvider: React.FC<{ children?: React.ReactNode }> = ({
         typeof newValue === 'object'
       ) {
         // merge the value with any existing preference for the key
-        newValue = deepMergeSimple(currentPreference, newValue)
+        if (currentPreference) {
+          newValue = deepMergeSimple(currentPreference, newValue)
+        }
 
         if (dequal(newValue, currentPreference)) {
           return