diff --git a/src/settings-ui/Settings.UI.Library/CmdPalProperties.cs b/src/settings-ui/Settings.UI.Library/CmdPalProperties.cs
index 406f67c2a4..9102609b6b 100644
--- a/src/settings-ui/Settings.UI.Library/CmdPalProperties.cs
+++ b/src/settings-ui/Settings.UI.Library/CmdPalProperties.cs
@@ -4,9 +4,7 @@
 
 using System;
 using System.IO;
-using System.IO.Abstractions;
 using System.Text.Json;
-using System.Text.Json.Serialization;
 
 namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.Settings.UI.Library
 {
@@ -46,17 +44,13 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.Settings.UI.Library
                 if (doc.RootElement.TryGetProperty(nameof(Hotkey), out JsonElement hotkeyElement))
                 {
                     Hotkey = JsonSerializer.Deserialize<HotkeySettings>(hotkeyElement.GetRawText());
-
-                    if (Hotkey == null)
-                    {
-                        Hotkey = DefaultHotkeyValue;
-                    }
                 }
             }
             catch (Exception)
             {
-                Hotkey = DefaultHotkeyValue;
             }
+
+            Hotkey ??= DefaultHotkeyValue;
         }
     }
 }