diff --git a/models/cards.js b/models/cards.js
index 1cb1e3d07..21a7f2ad2 100644
--- a/models/cards.js
+++ b/models/cards.js
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ Cards.attachSchema(new SimpleSchema({
   labelIds: {
     type: [String],
     optional: true,
-    defaultValue: '',
+    defaultValue: [],
   },
   members: {
     type: [String],