diff --git a/api/http/handler/settings/settings_public.go b/api/http/handler/settings/settings_public.go
index 76818743f..921966a3d 100644
--- a/api/http/handler/settings/settings_public.go
+++ b/api/http/handler/settings/settings_public.go
@@ -95,8 +95,10 @@ func generatePublicSettings(appSettings *portainer.Settings) *publicSettingsResp
 		}
 	}
 	//if LDAP authentication is on, compose the related fields from application settings
-	if publicSettings.AuthenticationMethod == portainer.AuthenticationLDAP {
-		publicSettings.TeamSync = len(appSettings.LDAPSettings.GroupSearchSettings) > 0
+	if publicSettings.AuthenticationMethod == portainer.AuthenticationLDAP && appSettings.LDAPSettings.GroupSearchSettings != nil {
+		if len(appSettings.LDAPSettings.GroupSearchSettings) > 0 {
+			publicSettings.TeamSync = len(appSettings.LDAPSettings.GroupSearchSettings[0].GroupBaseDN) > 0
+		}
 	}
 	return publicSettings
 }