diff --git a/projects/announcekit-angular/src/lib/announcekit.component.ts b/projects/announcekit-angular/src/lib/announcekit.component.ts
index 12b86ba..247b3c8 100644
--- a/projects/announcekit-angular/src/lib/announcekit.component.ts
+++ b/projects/announcekit-angular/src/lib/announcekit.component.ts
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ export class AnnouncekitComponent implements AfterViewInit {
 
   private propsValid: boolean = true;
   private _user: User;
-  private _data: Data;
+  private _data: Data = {};
   public className: string;
 
   public widgetInstance: any;