diff --git a/client/src/state/progress.ts b/client/src/state/progress.ts
index 50ab0ee..8aa65d3 100644
--- a/client/src/state/progress.ts
+++ b/client/src/state/progress.ts
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ export function selectProgress(game: string) {
 /** return progress for the current game if it exists */
 export function selectDifficulty(game: string) {
   return (state) => {
-    return state.progress.games[game].difficulty ?? DEFAULT_DIFFICULTY
+    return state.progress.games[game]?.difficulty ?? DEFAULT_DIFFICULTY
   }
 }