diff --git a/src/static/js/pad_cookie.js b/src/static/js/pad_cookie.js
index 0e946ea5c89..f19fc4ab296 100644
--- a/src/static/js/pad_cookie.js
+++ b/src/static/js/pad_cookie.js
@@ -55,11 +55,15 @@ exports.padcookie = new class {
   }
 
   getPref(prefName) {
-    return this.readPrefs_()[prefName];
+    const prefs = this.readPrefs_();
+    return prefs ? prefs[prefName] : null;
   }
 
   setPref(prefName, value) {
     const prefs = this.readPrefs_();
+    if (!prefs) {
+      return;
+    }
     prefs[prefName] = value;
     this.writePrefs_(prefs);
   }