diff --git a/resources/views/books/parts/form.blade.php b/resources/views/books/parts/form.blade.php
index 973bae98701..e22be619d66 100644
--- a/resources/views/books/parts/form.blade.php
+++ b/resources/views/books/parts/form.blade.php
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@
                 @include('form.page-picker', [
                     'name' => 'default_template_id',
                     'placeholder' => trans('entities.books_default_template_select'),
-                    'value' => $book?->default_template_id ?? null,
+                    'value' => $book->default_template_id ?? null,
                 ])
             </div>
         </div>
diff --git a/tests/Entity/BookDefaultTemplateTest.php b/tests/Entity/BookDefaultTemplateTest.php
index f23ba4a8e2d..d4cd5b2c3a9 100644
--- a/tests/Entity/BookDefaultTemplateTest.php
+++ b/tests/Entity/BookDefaultTemplateTest.php
@@ -159,6 +159,21 @@ public function test_creating_book_page_does_not_use_template_if_not_visible()
         $this->assertEquals('', $latestPage->markdown);
     }
 
+    public function test_template_page_delete_removes_book_template_usage()
+    {
+        $templatePage = $this->entities->templatePage();
+        $book = $this->bookUsingDefaultTemplate($templatePage);
+
+        $book->refresh();
+        $this->assertEquals($templatePage->id, $book->default_template_id);
+
+        $this->asEditor()->delete($templatePage->getUrl());
+        $this->asAdmin()->post('/settings/recycle-bin/empty');
+
+        $book->refresh();
+        $this->assertEquals(null, $book->default_template_id);
+    }
+
     protected function bookUsingDefaultTemplate(Page $page): Book
     {
         $book = $this->entities->book();