diff --git a/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/channel_list_view.dart b/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/channel_list_view.dart
index 86712c8a..b14e0b75 100644
--- a/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/channel_list_view.dart
+++ b/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/channel_list_view.dart
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ class ChannelListView extends StatefulWidget {
 class _ChannelListViewState extends State<ChannelListView> {
   final _slideController = SlidableController();
 
-  final _defaultController = ChannelListController();
+  late final _defaultController = ChannelListController();
   ChannelListController get _channelListController =>
       widget.channelListController ?? _defaultController;
 
diff --git a/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/message_list_view.dart b/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/message_list_view.dart
index ad068c4d..e46f0d16 100644
--- a/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/message_list_view.dart
+++ b/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/message_list_view.dart
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ class _MessageListViewState extends State<MessageListView> {
 
   bool _inBetweenList = false;
 
-  final _defaultController = MessageListController();
+  late final _defaultController = MessageListController();
   MessageListController get _messageListController =>
       widget.messageListController ?? _defaultController;
 
diff --git a/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/message_search_list_view.dart b/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/message_search_list_view.dart
index 50c1d47f..1a67702f 100644
--- a/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/message_search_list_view.dart
+++ b/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/message_search_list_view.dart
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ class MessageSearchListView extends StatefulWidget {
 }
 
 class _MessageSearchListViewState extends State<MessageSearchListView> {
-  final _defaultController = MessageSearchListController();
+  late final _defaultController = MessageSearchListController();
   MessageSearchListController get _messageSearchListController =>
       widget.messageSearchListController ?? _defaultController;
 
diff --git a/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/user_list_view.dart b/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/user_list_view.dart
index e027989e..07b76f62 100644
--- a/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/user_list_view.dart
+++ b/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/user_list_view.dart
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ class _UserListViewState extends State<UserListView>
     with WidgetsBindingObserver {
   bool get _isListView => widget.crossAxisCount == 1;
 
-  final _defaultController = UserListController();
+  late final _defaultController = UserListController();
   UserListController get _userListController =>
       widget.userListController ?? _defaultController;