diff --git a/dotcom-rendering/src/components/Kicker.tsx b/dotcom-rendering/src/components/Kicker.tsx
index f8cd7943b8..cefa17ae57 100644
--- a/dotcom-rendering/src/components/Kicker.tsx
+++ b/dotcom-rendering/src/components/Kicker.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import type { PodcastSeriesImage } from '../types/tag';
 import { CardPicture } from './CardPicture';
 import { Island } from './Island';
 import { PulsingDot } from './PulsingDot.importable';
+import { isUndefined } from '@guardian/libs';
 
 type Props = {
 	text: string;
@@ -74,8 +75,6 @@ export const Kicker = ({
 	 */
 	const isLiveKicker = !!showPulsingDot;
 
-	const displayImage = accentImage?.src;
-
 	return (
 		<div
 			css={[
@@ -94,7 +93,7 @@ export const Kicker = ({
 					: 'transparent',
 			}}
 		>
-			{displayImage && (
+			{!isUndefined(accentImage?.src) && (
 				<div
 					css={[
 						css`
@@ -104,7 +103,7 @@ export const Kicker = ({
 					]}
 				>
 					<CardPicture
-						mainImage={accentImage.src ?? ''}
+						mainImage={accentImage.src}
 						imageSize={'small'}
 						alt={accentImage.altText}
 						loading={'lazy'}