diff --git a/server/app.py b/server/app.py
index d6ff4a7..22ce155 100644
--- a/server/app.py
+++ b/server/app.py
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ def tube_index_updater(shared_mem):
         time.sleep(5)
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
-    tube_index_smem = Value("tube_index", None)
+    tube_index_smem = Value("tube_index", "placeholder")
     ti_updater_thread = Process(target=tube_index_updater, args=(tube_index_smem))
     ti_updater_thread.start()
     time.sleep(1)