diff --git a/android/java/org/chromium/chrome/browser/settings/BraveNewsPreferencesTypeAdapter.java b/android/java/org/chromium/chrome/browser/settings/BraveNewsPreferencesTypeAdapter.java
index 00c10e371e96..240d7229e4eb 100644
--- a/android/java/org/chromium/chrome/browser/settings/BraveNewsPreferencesTypeAdapter.java
+++ b/android/java/org/chromium/chrome/browser/settings/BraveNewsPreferencesTypeAdapter.java
@@ -72,6 +72,8 @@ public BraveNewsPreferencesTypeAdapter(
         mBraveNewsPreferencesType = braveNewsPreferencesType;
         mPublisherList = publisherList;
         mChannelList = channelList;
+        // Init channel list as an empty array if it is null to avoid null pointer crashes.
+        if (mChannelList == null) mChannelList = new ArrayList<>();
         if (mChannelList.size() > 0) {
             mChannelIcons = BraveNewsUtils.getChannelIcons();
         }