diff --git a/core/server/models/member.js b/core/server/models/member.js
index ebdf650369..b1d83cb587 100644
--- a/core/server/models/member.js
+++ b/core/server/models/member.js
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ const Member = ghostBookshelf.Model.extend({
         this.handleAttachedModels(model);
     },
     onSaving: function onSaving(model, attr, options) {
-        let labelsToSave;
+        let labelsToSave = [];
         let ops = [];
 
         // CASE: detect lowercase/uppercase label slugs
diff --git a/core/test/regression/api/canary/admin/utils.js b/core/test/regression/api/canary/admin/utils.js
index 52abe17bac..8065e0500f 100644
--- a/core/test/regression/api/canary/admin/utils.js
+++ b/core/test/regression/api/canary/admin/utils.js
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ const expectedProperties = {
     member: _(schema.members)
         .keys()
         .concat('comped')
+        .concat('labels')
     ,
     role: _(schema.roles)
         .keys()