diff --git a/firedrake/cofunction.py b/firedrake/cofunction.py
index cd4b150218..c7dbb80549 100644
--- a/firedrake/cofunction.py
+++ b/firedrake/cofunction.py
@@ -412,7 +412,7 @@ def __init__(self, function_space_or_inner_product=None,
         self._function_space = function_space
         self._inner_product = inner_product
         self._bcs = bcs
-        self._solver_options = solver_options
+        self._solver_options = solver_options or {}
 
     @staticmethod
     def _inner_product_form(sobolev_space, u, v):