diff --git a/src/Files.App/ViewModels/UserControls/NavigationToolbarViewModel.cs b/src/Files.App/ViewModels/UserControls/NavigationToolbarViewModel.cs
index c3d9ee6873b3..0fc66c0bcc11 100644
--- a/src/Files.App/ViewModels/UserControls/NavigationToolbarViewModel.cs
+++ b/src/Files.App/ViewModels/UserControls/NavigationToolbarViewModel.cs
@@ -942,8 +942,14 @@ public async Task PopulateOmnibarSuggestionsForPathMode()
 			void AddNoResultsItem()
 			{
 				PathModeSuggestionItems.Clear();
+				
+				// Use null-safe access to avoid NullReferenceException during app lifecycle transitions
+				var workingDirectory = string.IsNullOrEmpty(ContentPageContext.ShellPage?.ShellViewModel?.WorkingDirectory)
+					? Constants.UserEnvironmentPaths.HomePath
+					: ContentPageContext.ShellPage.ShellViewModel.WorkingDirectory;
+				
 				PathModeSuggestionItems.Add(new(
-					ContentPageContext.ShellPage.ShellViewModel.WorkingDirectory,
+					workingDirectory,
 					Strings.NavigationToolbarVisiblePathNoResults.GetLocalizedResource()));
 			}
 		}