diff --git a/src/settings-ui/Settings.UI.Library/PowerOcrProperties.cs b/src/settings-ui/Settings.UI.Library/PowerOcrProperties.cs
index 65d4d07ba8..903fd5f1bc 100644
--- a/src/settings-ui/Settings.UI.Library/PowerOcrProperties.cs
+++ b/src/settings-ui/Settings.UI.Library/PowerOcrProperties.cs
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.Settings.UI.Library
         public PowerOcrProperties()
         {
             ActivationShortcut = new HotkeySettings(true, false, false, true, 0x54); // Win+Shift+T
+            PreferredLanguage = string.Empty;
         }
 
         public HotkeySettings ActivationShortcut { get; set; }