diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Select/PlaySongSelect.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Select/PlaySongSelect.cs
index 8e9248091c..75c6d56b0d 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Select/PlaySongSelect.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Select/PlaySongSelect.cs
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Select
         }
 
         private ScheduledDelegate filterTask;
-        private string previousFilter = null;
+        private string previousFilter = string.Empty;
 
         private void filterChanged()
         {