diff --git a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableHitCircle.cs b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableHitCircle.cs
index 15c768fff9..bd4cb1f112 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableHitCircle.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Rulesets.Osu/Objects/Drawables/DrawableHitCircle.cs
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ protected override void ApplySkin(ISkinSource skin, bool allowFallback)
         {
             base.ApplySkin(skin, allowFallback);
 
-            expandNumberPiece.Value = skin.GetConfig<OsuSkinConfiguration, bool>(OsuSkinConfiguration.ExpandNumberPiece).Value;
+            expandNumberPiece.Value = skin.GetConfig<OsuSkinConfiguration, bool>(OsuSkinConfiguration.ExpandNumberPiece)?.Value ?? false;
         }
 
         protected override void CheckForResult(bool userTriggered, double timeOffset)