diff --git a/libs/ui/src/textarea/textarea.component.ts b/libs/ui/src/textarea/textarea.component.ts
index cbe13ba..67ea3c0 100644
--- a/libs/ui/src/textarea/textarea.component.ts
+++ b/libs/ui/src/textarea/textarea.component.ts
@@ -50,12 +50,12 @@ export class TextareaComponent implements AfterViewInit, ControlValueAccessor, O
 
   onTouched: () => {};
   private onChange: (value: any) => {};
-  private _value: string = '';
+  private _value: string;
 
   constructor(private injector: Injector, private changeDetectorRef: ChangeDetectorRef) {}
 
   get currentValue(): string {
-    return this._value;
+    return this._value || '';
   }
 
   get charactersLeft(): number {