diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/apm/public/context/LicenseContext/index.tsx b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/apm/public/context/LicenseContext/index.tsx
index 8cdb7f050027d..0bd3896782603 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/apm/public/context/LicenseContext/index.tsx
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/apm/public/context/LicenseContext/index.tsx
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ export const LicenseContext = React.createContext<ILicense | undefined>(
 
 export function LicenseProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactChild }) {
   const { license$ } = useApmPluginContext().plugins.licensing;
-  const license = useObservable(license$);
-  const hasInvalidLicense = !license?.isActive;
+  const license = useObservable(license$, { isActive: true } as ILicense);
+  const hasInvalidLicense = !license.isActive;
 
   // if license is invalid show an error message
   if (hasInvalidLicense) {