diff --git a/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js b/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js
index 87e57e49e4333e..0e9291b7a5e03d 100644
--- a/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js
+++ b/packages/rich-text/src/component/index.js
@@ -71,7 +71,9 @@ export function useRichText( {
 	function setRecordFromProps() {
 		_value.current = value;
 		record.current = create( {
-			html: preserveWhiteSpace ? value : collapseWhiteSpace( value ),
+			html: preserveWhiteSpace
+				? value
+				: collapseWhiteSpace( typeof value === 'string' ? value : '' ),
 		} );
 		if ( disableFormats ) {
 			record.current.formats = Array( value.length );