diff --git a/app/database/operator/server_data_operator/handlers/user.ts b/app/database/operator/server_data_operator/handlers/user.ts
index b5c2813b2..2399980ed 100644
--- a/app/database/operator/server_data_operator/handlers/user.ts
+++ b/app/database/operator/server_data_operator/handlers/user.ts
@@ -37,14 +37,16 @@ const UserHandler = <TBase extends Constructor<ServerDataOperatorBase>>(supercla
      */
     handlePreferences = async ({preferences, prepareRecordsOnly = true, sync = false}: HandlePreferencesArgs): Promise<PreferenceModel[]> => {
         const records: PreferenceModel[] = [];
-        const filtered = filterPreferences(preferences);
-        if (!filtered?.length) {
+
+        if (!preferences?.length) {
             logWarning(
                 'An empty or undefined "preferences" array has been passed to the handlePreferences method',
             );
             return records;
         }
 
+        const filtered = filterPreferences(preferences);
+
         // WE NEED TO SYNC THE PREFS FROM WHAT WE GOT AND WHAT WE HAVE
         const deleteValues: PreferenceModel[] = [];
         const stored = await this.database.get(PREFERENCE).query().fetch() as PreferenceModel[];
diff --git a/app/helpers/api/preference.ts b/app/helpers/api/preference.ts
index b3f824b53..67dc26220 100644
--- a/app/helpers/api/preference.ts
+++ b/app/helpers/api/preference.ts
@@ -53,8 +53,8 @@ export function getSidebarPreferenceAsBool(preferences: Preference[], name: stri
     return getPreferenceAsBool(preferences, Preferences.CATEGORIES.SIDEBAR_SETTINGS, name, defaultValue);
 }
 
-export function filterPreferences(preferences?: PreferenceType[]) {
-    if (!preferences?.length) {
+export function filterPreferences(preferences: PreferenceType[]) {
+    if (!preferences.length) {
         return preferences;
     }