diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 25faaab..de48017 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
     "name": "@panic/web-core",
-    "version": "0.1.4",
+    "version": "0.1.5",
     "license": "AGPL-3.0-only",
     "description": "Core auth and utilities for panic.haus web applications",
     "type": "module",
diff --git a/src/panels/useSidePanelMachine.ts b/src/panels/useSidePanelMachine.ts
index 6406283..488ea44 100644
--- a/src/panels/useSidePanelMachine.ts
+++ b/src/panels/useSidePanelMachine.ts
@@ -76,6 +76,10 @@ export function useSidePanelMachine({
         }
 
         const storedValue = localStorage.getItem(storageKey);
+        if (storedValue == null || storedValue.trim() === '') {
+            return defaultWidth;
+        }
+
         const parsed = Number(storedValue);
         if (!Number.isFinite(parsed)) {
             return defaultWidth;