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 4d650192..12dbb3ec 100644
--- a/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/user_list_view.dart
+++ b/packages/stream_chat_flutter/lib/src/user_list_view.dart
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class UserListView extends StatefulWidget {
   /// Instantiate a new UserListView
   const UserListView({
     Key? key,
-    this.filter,
+    this.filter = const Filter.empty(),
     this.sort,
     this.presence,
     this.pagination = const PaginationParams(limit: 30),
@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@ class UserListView extends StatefulWidget {
   /// The query filters to use.
   /// You can query on any of the custom fields you've defined on the [Channel].
   /// You can also filter other built-in channel fields.
+  // TODO: Make it non-nullable in a future breaking release
   final Filter? filter;
 
   /// The sorting used for the channels matching the filters.
diff --git a/packages/stream_chat_flutter_core/lib/src/user_list_core.dart b/packages/stream_chat_flutter_core/lib/src/user_list_core.dart
index 06ad7d80..75fc7411 100644
--- a/packages/stream_chat_flutter_core/lib/src/user_list_core.dart
+++ b/packages/stream_chat_flutter_core/lib/src/user_list_core.dart
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class UserListCore extends StatefulWidget {
     required this.loadingBuilder,
     required this.listBuilder,
     Key? key,
-    this.filter,
+    this.filter = const Filter.empty(),
     this.sort,
     this.presence,
     this.pagination = const PaginationParams(limit: 30),
@@ -91,6 +91,7 @@ class UserListCore extends StatefulWidget {
   /// The query filters to use.
   /// You can query on any of the custom fields you've defined on the [Channel].
   /// You can also filter other built-in channel fields.
+  // TODO: Make it non-nullable in a future breaking release
   final Filter? filter;
 
   /// The sorting used for the channels matching the filters.