diff --git a/lib/trails/Controller.php b/lib/trails/Controller.php
index a5a0ba7b3e37f828cbbff059d8397d85df0cf055..bafb8db821a776c80c1d2d9f165a2bbb6ead4d26 100644
--- a/lib/trails/Controller.php
+++ b/lib/trails/Controller.php
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class Controller
     protected Dispatcher $dispatcher;
     protected Response $response;
     protected bool $performed = false;
-    protected Template|string|null $layout;
+    protected Template|string|null $layout = null;
     protected string $format = 'html';
 
     /**