diff --git a/packages/obsidian/src/main.ts b/packages/obsidian/src/main.ts
index 08c1ad8..b80d72d 100644
--- a/packages/obsidian/src/main.ts
+++ b/packages/obsidian/src/main.ts
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ export default class MediaDbPlugin extends Plugin {
 	}
 
 	async loadSettings(): Promise<void> {
-		const diskSettings = (await this.loadData()) as Record<string, unknown>;
+		const diskSettings = ((await this.loadData()) ?? {}) as Record<string, unknown>;
 		const defaultSettings: MediaDbPluginSettings = getDefaultSettings(this);
 		const loadedSettings = Object.assign({}, defaultSettings, diskSettings) as MediaDbPluginSettings;