diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/UserInterface/TestSceneModSelectScreen.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/UserInterface/TestSceneModSelectScreen.cs
index bd63023efb..7690029ba2 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/UserInterface/TestSceneModSelectScreen.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Visual/UserInterface/TestSceneModSelectScreen.cs
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ public void TestPreexistingSelection()
                 return Precision.AlmostEquals(multiplier, modSelectScreen.ChildrenOfType<DifficultyMultiplierDisplay>().Single().Current.Value);
             });
             assertCustomisationToggleState(disabled: false, active: false);
+            AddAssert("setting items created", () => modSelectScreen.ChildrenOfType<ISettingsItem>().Any());
         }
 
         [Test]
@@ -82,6 +83,7 @@ public void TestExternalSelection()
                 return Precision.AlmostEquals(multiplier, modSelectScreen.ChildrenOfType<DifficultyMultiplierDisplay>().Single().Current.Value);
             });
             assertCustomisationToggleState(disabled: false, active: false);
+            AddAssert("setting items created", () => modSelectScreen.ChildrenOfType<ISettingsItem>().Any());
         }
 
         [Test]
diff --git a/osu.Game/Overlays/Mods/ModSettingsArea.cs b/osu.Game/Overlays/Mods/ModSettingsArea.cs
index be72c1e3e3..9c5f3b7f11 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Overlays/Mods/ModSettingsArea.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Overlays/Mods/ModSettingsArea.cs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // Copyright (c) ppy Pty Ltd <contact@ppy.sh>. Licensed under the MIT Licence.
 // See the LICENCE file in the repository root for full licence text.
 
+using System;
 using System.Collections.Generic;
 using System.Linq;
 using osu.Framework.Allocation;
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Overlays.Mods
 {
     public class ModSettingsArea : CompositeDrawable
     {
-        public Bindable<IReadOnlyList<Mod>> SelectedMods { get; } = new Bindable<IReadOnlyList<Mod>>();
+        public Bindable<IReadOnlyList<Mod>> SelectedMods { get; } = new Bindable<IReadOnlyList<Mod>>(Array.Empty<Mod>());
 
         public const float HEIGHT = 250;
 
@@ -77,7 +78,7 @@ private void load()
         protected override void LoadComplete()
         {
             base.LoadComplete();
-            SelectedMods.BindValueChanged(_ => updateMods());
+            SelectedMods.BindValueChanged(_ => updateMods(), true);
         }
 
         private void updateMods()