diff --git a/src/items/item.hpp b/src/items/item.hpp
index 36c17df6bde..c6b3f82413f 100644
--- a/src/items/item.hpp
+++ b/src/items/item.hpp
@@ -46,7 +46,9 @@ class ItemProperties {
 			);
 		}
 		g_logger().error("Failed to convert attribute for type {}", fmt::underlying(type));
-		return {};
+
+		static T defaultType;
+		return defaultType;
 	}
 
 	bool hasAttribute(ItemAttribute_t type) const {