diff --git a/keras_cv/utils/preset_utils.py b/keras_cv/utils/preset_utils.py
index 2f561123b9..46c547449b 100644
--- a/keras_cv/utils/preset_utils.py
+++ b/keras_cv/utils/preset_utils.py
@@ -216,6 +216,6 @@ def legacy_load_weights(layer, weights_path):
         if cls.__name__ == "Functional":
             functional_cls = cls
     property = functional_cls._layer_checkpoint_dependencies
-    functional_cls._layer_checkpoint_dependencies = None
+    functional_cls._layer_checkpoint_dependencies = []
     layer.load_weights(weights_path)
     functional_cls._layer_checkpoint_dependencies = property