diff --git a/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerhighlight.lua b/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerhighlight.lua
index 283d6b1fd..316283e92 100644
--- a/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerhighlight.lua
+++ b/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerhighlight.lua
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ end
 
 function ReaderHighlight:setupTouchZones()
     -- delegate gesture listener to readerui
-    self.ges_events = nil
+    self.ges_events = {}
     self.onGesture = nil
 
     if not Device:isTouchDevice() then return end
diff --git a/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readermenu.lua b/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readermenu.lua
index fd9d75702..a33794e87 100644
--- a/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readermenu.lua
+++ b/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readermenu.lua
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ end
 
 function ReaderMenu:onReaderReady()
     -- delegate gesture listener to readerui
-    self.ges_events = nil
+    self.ges_events = {}
     self.onGesture = nil
     if not Device:isTouchDevice() then return end
 
diff --git a/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerpaging.lua b/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerpaging.lua
index 1f37b9eb6..802365c27 100644
--- a/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerpaging.lua
+++ b/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerpaging.lua
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ end
 
 function ReaderPaging:setupTouchZones()
     -- delegate gesture listener to readerui
-    self.ges_events = nil
+    self.ges_events = {}
     self.onGesture = nil
     if not Device:isTouchDevice() then return end
 
diff --git a/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerrolling.lua b/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerrolling.lua
index e2c5b966d..ce17e7054 100644
--- a/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerrolling.lua
+++ b/frontend/apps/reader/modules/readerrolling.lua
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ end
 
 function ReaderRolling:setupTouchZones()
     -- delegate gesture listener to readerui
-    self.ges_events = nil
+    self.ges_events = {}
     self.onGesture = nil
     if not Device:isTouchDevice() then return end