diff --git a/src/main/java/com/cleanroommc/modularui/widget/Widget.java b/src/main/java/com/cleanroommc/modularui/widget/Widget.java
index 94af093cd..c79b17c3b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/cleanroommc/modularui/widget/Widget.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/cleanroommc/modularui/widget/Widget.java
@@ -151,7 +151,11 @@ public void initialiseSyncHandler(ModularSyncManager syncManager, boolean late)
             handler = syncManager.getSyncHandler(getPanel().getName(), this.syncKey);
         }
         if (handler != null) checkValidSyncHandler(handler);
-        setSyncHandler(handler);
+        if (handler instanceof IValue<?> value1) {
+            setValue(value1); // this also calls setSyncHandler when a sync handler is passed in
+        } else {
+            setSyncHandler(handler);
+        }
         if (this.syncHandler instanceof ValueSyncHandler<?> valueSyncHandler && valueSyncHandler.getChangeListener() == null) {
             valueSyncHandler.setChangeListener(this::markTooltipDirty);
         }