diff --git a/src/ext/conf/ExtConfPatches.ts b/src/ext/conf/ExtConfPatches.ts
index bf46c02..5bcda1f 100644
--- a/src/ext/conf/ExtConfPatches.ts
+++ b/src/ext/conf/ExtConfPatches.ts
@@ -253,6 +253,17 @@ const ExtensionConfPatch = [
         },
       })
     }
+  }, {
+    forVersion: '5.99.5',
+    updateFn: (userOptions: SettingsInterface, defaultOptions) => {
+      if (!userOptions.sites['@global'].defaults.alignment || !userOptions.sites['@global'].defaults.alignment.x || !userOptions.sites['@global'].defaults.alignment.y) {
+        userOptions.sites['@global'].defaults.alignment = {
+          x: VideoAlignmentType.Center,
+          y: VideoAlignmentType.Center
+        };
+      }
+      userOptions.sites['@empty'].defaults.alignment = {x: VideoAlignmentType.Default, y: VideoAlignmentType.Default};
+    }
   }
 ];
 
diff --git a/src/ext/conf/ExtensionConf.ts b/src/ext/conf/ExtensionConf.ts
index b21d1f9..33133ef 100644
--- a/src/ext/conf/ExtensionConf.ts
+++ b/src/ext/conf/ExtensionConf.ts
@@ -1447,8 +1447,8 @@ const ExtensionConf: SettingsInterface = {
       defaults: {
         crop: {type: AspectRatioType.Reset},  // does NOT override Aard
         stretch: StretchType.NoStretch,
+        alignment: {x: VideoAlignmentType.Center, y: VideoAlignmentType.Center},
       }
-
     },
     "@empty": {                             // placeholder settings object with fallbacks to @global
       enable: {
@@ -1471,6 +1471,7 @@ const ExtensionConf: SettingsInterface = {
       defaults: {
         crop: null,
         stretch: StretchType.Default,
+        alignment: {x: VideoAlignmentType.Default, y: VideoAlignmentType.Default},
       }
     },
     "www.youtube.com" : {
diff --git a/src/ext/lib/settings/SiteSettings.ts b/src/ext/lib/settings/SiteSettings.ts
index f472df8..349bf95 100644
--- a/src/ext/lib/settings/SiteSettings.ts
+++ b/src/ext/lib/settings/SiteSettings.ts
@@ -66,16 +66,16 @@ export class SiteSettings {
 
       // these can contain default options, but can also be undefined
       if (this.data.defaults?.stretch === StretchType.Default || this.data.defaults?.stretch === undefined) {
-        this.data.defaults.stretch = _cp(this.defaultSettings.defaults.stretch);
+        this.data.defaults.stretch = _cp(this.defaultSettings.defaults.stretch ?? StretchType.NoStretch);
       }
       if (this.data.defaults?.alignment === undefined) {  // distinguish between undefined and 0!
-        this.data.defaults.alignment = _cp(this.defaultSettings.defaults.alignment);
+        this.data.defaults.alignment = _cp(this.defaultSettings.defaults.alignment ?? {x: VideoAlignmentType.Center, y: VideoAlignmentType.Center});
       } else {
         if (this.data.defaults?.alignment.x === VideoAlignmentType.Default) {
-          this.data.defaults.alignment.x = _cp(this.defaultSettings.defaults.alignment.x);
+          this.data.defaults.alignment.x = _cp(this.defaultSettings.defaults.alignment.x ?? VideoAlignmentType.Center);
         }
         if (this.data.defaults.alignment.y === VideoAlignmentType.Default) {
-          this.data.defaults.alignment.y = _cp(this.defaultSettings.defaults.alignment.y);
+          this.data.defaults.alignment.y = _cp(this.defaultSettings.defaults.alignment.y ?? VideoAlignmentType.Center);
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/src/manifest.json b/src/manifest.json
index ffbc406..b6d3a5e 100644
--- a/src/manifest.json
+++ b/src/manifest.json
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
   "manifest_version": 2,
   "name": "Ultrawidify",
   "description": "Removes black bars on ultrawide videos and offers advanced options to fix aspect ratio.",
-  "version": "5.99.0-4",
+  "version": "5.99.5",
   "applications": {
     "gecko": {
       "id": "{cf02b1a7-a01a-4e37-a609-516a283f1ed3}"