diff --git a/docs/api-reference/map.md b/docs/api-reference/map.md
index 0ad33c01f..bbd99c477 100644
--- a/docs/api-reference/map.md
+++ b/docs/api-reference/map.md
@@ -577,7 +577,7 @@ import Map from 'react-map-gl';
 import type {MapRef} from 'react-map-gl';
 
 function App() {
-  const mapRef = useRef<MapRef>();
+  const mapRef = useRef<MapRef>(null);
 
   const onMapLoad = useCallback(() => {
     mapRef.current.on('move', () => {