diff --git a/code/modules/client/preferences/types/game/sound.dm b/code/modules/client/preferences/types/game/sound.dm
index d239fcd636..a4f03bde4e 100644
--- a/code/modules/client/preferences/types/game/sound.dm
+++ b/code/modules/client/preferences/types/game/sound.dm
@@ -181,6 +181,8 @@
 /datum/preference/volume_channels/is_valid(value)
 	return islist(value)
 
+/datum/preference/volume_channels/create_default_value()
+	return list()
 
 /mob/proc/get_preference_volume_channel(volume_channel)
 	if(!client)