diff --git a/src/lib/api/feed/merge.ts b/src/lib/api/feed/merge.ts
index a4391afb..2314e2b9 100644
--- a/src/lib/api/feed/merge.ts
+++ b/src/lib/api/feed/merge.ts
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ export class MergeFeedAPI implements FeedAPI {
     }
 
     return {
-      cursor: posts.length ? String(this.itemCursor) : undefined,
+      cursor: String(this.itemCursor),
       feed: posts,
     }
   }
diff --git a/src/lib/constants.ts b/src/lib/constants.ts
index e566d40d..aec8338d 100644
--- a/src/lib/constants.ts
+++ b/src/lib/constants.ts
@@ -117,8 +117,8 @@ export async function DEFAULT_FEEDS(
   } else {
     // production
     return {
-      pinned: [],
-      saved: [],
+      pinned: [PROD_DEFAULT_FEED('whats-hot')],
+      saved: [PROD_DEFAULT_FEED('whats-hot')],
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/view/screens/Home.tsx b/src/view/screens/Home.tsx
index b8033f0b..0e20a9cf 100644
--- a/src/view/screens/Home.tsx
+++ b/src/view/screens/Home.tsx
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ import {useSession} from '#/state/session'
 import {loadString, saveString} from '#/lib/storage'
 import {useWebMediaQueries} from '#/lib/hooks/useWebMediaQueries'
 import {clamp} from '#/lib/numbers'
+import {PROD_DEFAULT_FEED} from '#/lib/constants'
 
 type Props = NativeStackScreenProps<HomeTabNavigatorParams, 'Home'>
 export function HomeScreen(props: Props) {
@@ -109,7 +110,9 @@ function HomeScreenReady({
   const homeFeedParams = React.useMemo<FeedParams>(() => {
     return {
       mergeFeedEnabled: Boolean(preferences.feedViewPrefs.lab_mergeFeedEnabled),
-      mergeFeedSources: preferences.feeds.saved,
+      mergeFeedSources: preferences.feedViewPrefs.lab_mergeFeedEnabled
+        ? preferences.feeds.saved
+        : [PROD_DEFAULT_FEED('whats-hot')],
     }
   }, [preferences])