diff --git a/packages/decap-cms-widget-file/src/withFileControl.js b/packages/decap-cms-widget-file/src/withFileControl.js
index 9bf87237bf8e..aabffaf8639c 100644
--- a/packages/decap-cms-widget-file/src/withFileControl.js
+++ b/packages/decap-cms-widget-file/src/withFileControl.js
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ function sizeOfValue(value) {
 }
 
 function valueListToArray(value) {
-  return List.isList(value) ? value.toArray() : value ?? [];
+  return List.isList(value) ? value.toArray() : value ?? '';
 }
 
 function valueListToSortableArray(value) {