diff --git a/src/mol-plugin-state/builder/structure/representation-preset.ts b/src/mol-plugin-state/builder/structure/representation-preset.ts
index b3919baf76d1626de243ad5913d427bf1d598761..ca504453310f97c76bafdc2d155b4ef775f5f2a0 100644
--- a/src/mol-plugin-state/builder/structure/representation-preset.ts
+++ b/src/mol-plugin-state/builder/structure/representation-preset.ts
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ export namespace StructureRepresentationPresetProvider {
     }
 
     export function updateFocusRepr<T extends ColorTheme.BuiltIn>(plugin: PluginContext, structure: Structure, themeName: T | undefined, themeParams: ColorTheme.BuiltInParams<T> | undefined) {
+        if (!themeName && !themeParams) return;
+
         return plugin.state.updateBehavior(StructureFocusRepresentation, p => {
             const c = createStructureColorThemeParams(plugin, structure, 'ball-and-stick', themeName, themeParams);
             p.surroundingsParams.colorTheme = c;