diff --git a/library/Icinga/User.php b/library/Icinga/User.php
index 94ce4c6b9..5d7887af3 100644
--- a/library/Icinga/User.php
+++ b/library/Icinga/User.php
@@ -163,6 +163,9 @@ class User
      */
     public function getPreferences()
     {
+        if ($this->preferences === null) {
+            $this->preferences = new Preferences();
+        }
         return $this->preferences;
     }