diff --git a/tabby-core/src/configDefaults.yaml b/tabby-core/src/configDefaults.yaml
index 693c888b..1ad4f421 100644
--- a/tabby-core/src/configDefaults.yaml
+++ b/tabby-core/src/configDefaults.yaml
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ hotkeys:
   profile-selectors:
     __nonStructural: true
 profiles: []
+groups: []
 profileDefaults:
   __nonStructural: true
   ssh:
diff --git a/tabby-core/src/services/config.service.ts b/tabby-core/src/services/config.service.ts
index 206b3b46..50c0f3ab 100644
--- a/tabby-core/src/services/config.service.ts
+++ b/tabby-core/src/services/config.service.ts
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ export class ConfigService {
         if (config.version < 5) {
             const groups: PartialProfileGroup<ProfileGroup>[] = []
             for (const p of config.profiles ?? []) {
-                if (!`${p.group}`.trim()) {
+                if (!(p.group ?? '').trim()) {
                     continue
                 }