diff --git a/src/ImageSharp/Formats/Gif/GifEncoderCore.cs b/src/ImageSharp/Formats/Gif/GifEncoderCore.cs
index b6955b8c03..0bcb3ef0fa 100644
--- a/src/ImageSharp/Formats/Gif/GifEncoderCore.cs
+++ b/src/ImageSharp/Formats/Gif/GifEncoderCore.cs
@@ -560,6 +560,7 @@ internal sealed class GifEncoderCore : IImageEncoderInternals
         bool hasTransparency;
         if (metadata is null)
         {
+            metadata = new();
             hasTransparency = transparencyIndex > -1;
         }
         else