diff --git a/ee/backend/pkg/sessionmanager/manager.go b/ee/backend/pkg/sessionmanager/manager.go
index acbbed542..91bc95abd 100644
--- a/ee/backend/pkg/sessionmanager/manager.go
+++ b/ee/backend/pkg/sessionmanager/manager.go
@@ -329,6 +329,9 @@ func (sm *sessionManagerImpl) updateSessions() {
 
 	sm.mutex.RLock()
 	toAdd := make([]string, 0, len(updatedSessIDs))
+	if updatedSessIDs == nil {
+		updatedSessIDs = make(map[string]struct{})
+	}
 	for sessID, _ := range sessIDs {
 		if _, exists := sm.cache[sessID]; !exists {
 			updatedSessIDs[sessID] = struct{}{} // Add to updated sessions if not in cache