diff --git a/src/components/views/rooms/MemberList.tsx b/src/components/views/rooms/MemberList.tsx
index 5353eb94ed..2d929725b8 100644
--- a/src/components/views/rooms/MemberList.tsx
+++ b/src/components/views/rooms/MemberList.tsx
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ export default class MemberList extends React.Component<IProps, IState> {
         const hsUrl = MatrixClientPeg.get().baseUrl;
         this.showPresence = true;
         if (enablePresenceByHsUrl && enablePresenceByHsUrl[hsUrl] !== undefined) {
-            this.showPresence = enablePresenceByHsUrl[hsUrl];
+            this.showPresence = enablePresenceByHsUrl?.[hsUrl] ?? true;
         }
     }