diff --git a/packages/block-editor/src/components/provider/use-media-upload-settings.js b/packages/block-editor/src/components/provider/use-media-upload-settings.js
index 486066c7aa730..40390a77e746e 100644
--- a/packages/block-editor/src/components/provider/use-media-upload-settings.js
+++ b/packages/block-editor/src/components/provider/use-media-upload-settings.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import { useMemo } from '@wordpress/element';
  *
  * @return {Object} Media upload settings.
  */
-function useMediaUploadSettings( settings ) {
+function useMediaUploadSettings( settings = {} ) {
 	return useMemo(
 		() => ( {
 			mediaUpload: settings.mediaUpload,