diff --git a/public/js/app/hooks/__tests__/useSemesterRoundState.test.js b/public/js/app/hooks/__tests__/useSemesterRoundState.test.js
index c919478f..50d6142a 100644
--- a/public/js/app/hooks/__tests__/useSemesterRoundState.test.js
+++ b/public/js/app/hooks/__tests__/useSemesterRoundState.test.js
@@ -408,6 +408,20 @@ describe('useSemesterRoundsLogic', () => {
     expect(result.current.hasSyllabus).toBe(false)
   })
 
+  test('if selectedSemester is undefined, sets the latest syllabus as activeSyllabus', () => {
+    const { result } = renderHook(() =>
+      useSemesterRoundState({
+        initiallySelectedRoundIndex: undefined,
+        initiallySelectedSemester: undefined,
+        roundsBySemester,
+        syllabusList,
+        activeSemesters,
+      })
+    )
+
+    expect(result.current.activeSyllabus).toEqual(syllabusList[0])
+  })
+
   test('calling resetSelectedRoundIndex resets round values', async () => {
     const { result } = renderHook(() =>
       useSemesterRoundState({
diff --git a/public/js/app/hooks/useSemesterRoundState.js b/public/js/app/hooks/useSemesterRoundState.js
index 037bb2e9..601decad 100644
--- a/public/js/app/hooks/useSemesterRoundState.js
+++ b/public/js/app/hooks/useSemesterRoundState.js
@@ -64,10 +64,11 @@ const useSemesterRoundState = ({
 
   const hasActiveSemesters = useMemo(() => activeSemesters && activeSemesters.length > 0, [activeSemesters])
 
-  const activeSyllabus = useMemo(
-    () => getValidSyllabusForSemester(syllabusList, selectedSemester),
-    [syllabusList, selectedSemester]
-  )
+  const activeSyllabus = useMemo(() => {
+    if (!selectedSemester) return getElementOrEmpty(syllabusList, 0)
+
+    return getValidSyllabusForSemester(syllabusList, selectedSemester)
+  }, [syllabusList, selectedSemester])
 
   const hasSyllabus = useMemo(
     () => syllabusList && syllabusList.length > 0 && activeSyllabus !== undefined,