diff --git a/gpx/src/gpx.ts b/gpx/src/gpx.ts
index 5116d49a..52468453 100644
--- a/gpx/src/gpx.ts
+++ b/gpx/src/gpx.ts
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ export class GPXFile extends GPXTreeNode<Track>{
         super();
         if (gpx) {
             this.attributes = gpx.attributes
-            this.metadata = gpx.metadata;
+            this.metadata = gpx.metadata ?? {};
             this.metadata.author = {
                 name: 'gpx.studio',
                 link: {