diff --git a/app/helpers/sessions_helper.rb b/app/helpers/sessions_helper.rb
index 991aa1f50..85557adc0 100644
--- a/app/helpers/sessions_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/sessions_helper.rb
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 module SessionsHelper
   def prefilled_username
     uri = Addressable::URI.parse(session["user_return_to"])
-    uri&.query_values&.fetch("login_hint")
+    uri&.query_values&.fetch("login_hint", "")
   end
 
   def display_registration_link?