diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/Mods/ModSelectScreen.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/Mods/ModSelectScreen.cs
index 16975cfd1d..912c09f05c 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/Mods/ModSelectScreen.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/Mods/ModSelectScreen.cs
@@ -192,7 +192,10 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Mods
 
             State.BindValueChanged(_ => samplePlaybackDisabled.Value = State.Value == Visibility.Hidden, true);
 
-            ((IBindable<IReadOnlyList<Mod>>)modSettingsArea.SelectedMods).BindTo(SelectedMods);
+            // This is an optimisation to prevent refreshing the available settings controls when it can be
+            // reasonably assumed that the settings panel is never to be displayed (e.g. FreeModSelectScreen).
+            if (customisationButton != null)
+                ((IBindable<IReadOnlyList<Mod>>)modSettingsArea.SelectedMods).BindTo(SelectedMods);
 
             SelectedMods.BindValueChanged(val =>
             {