diff --git a/.changeset/hip-buses-itch.md b/.changeset/hip-buses-itch.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d20551882
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/hip-buses-itch.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@lion/tabs': patch
+---
+
+tabs: allow to be initialized withhout children
diff --git a/packages/tabs/src/LionTabs.js b/packages/tabs/src/LionTabs.js
index c3d31391e..9be49617b 100644
--- a/packages/tabs/src/LionTabs.js
+++ b/packages/tabs/src/LionTabs.js
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ export class LionTabs extends LitElement {
   firstUpdated(changedProperties) {
     super.firstUpdated(changedProperties);
     this.__setupSlots();
-    if (this.tabs[0].disabled) {
+    if (this.tabs[0]?.disabled) {
       this.selectedIndex = this.tabs.findIndex(tab => !tab.disabled);
     }
   }
diff --git a/packages/tabs/test/lion-tabs.test.js b/packages/tabs/test/lion-tabs.test.js
index 99584f952..4d0378de4 100644
--- a/packages/tabs/test/lion-tabs.test.js
+++ b/packages/tabs/test/lion-tabs.test.js
@@ -112,6 +112,11 @@ describe('<lion-tabs>', () => {
       );
       expect(selectedTab.textContent).to.equal('tab 2');
     });
+
+    it('can initially be instantiated without children', async () => {
+      const el = /** @type {LionTabs} */ (await fixture(html` <lion-tabs> </lion-tabs> `));
+      expect(el.tabs).to.eql([]);
+    });
   });
 
   describe('Tabs ([slot=tab])', () => {