diff --git a/iOS/Hydra/PreferencesService.m b/iOS/Hydra/PreferencesService.m
index f2f1311a..addeff21 100644
--- a/iOS/Hydra/PreferencesService.m
+++ b/iOS/Hydra/PreferencesService.m
@@ -66,6 +66,9 @@ - (NSArray *)preferredAssociations
 {
     NSArray *list = [self.settings objectForKey:kPreferredAssociationsKey];
     AssertClassOrNil(list, NSArray);
+    if (list == nil) {
+        list = [[NSArray alloc] init];
+    }
     return list;
 }