diff --git a/.changeset/small-accessory-props.md b/.changeset/small-accessory-props.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fabc30ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/small-accessory-props.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'react-native-bottom-tabs': patch
+---
+
+Initialize the bottom accessory's Fabric props to prevent a crash when mounting an accessory on iOS.
diff --git a/packages/react-native-bottom-tabs/ios/RCTBottomAccessoryComponentView.mm b/packages/react-native-bottom-tabs/ios/RCTBottomAccessoryComponentView.mm
index 1dd9543d..9473d0d7 100644
--- a/packages/react-native-bottom-tabs/ios/RCTBottomAccessoryComponentView.mm
+++ b/packages/react-native-bottom-tabs/ios/RCTBottomAccessoryComponentView.mm
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ - (instancetype)initWithFrame:(CGRect)frame
 {
   if (self = [super initWithFrame:frame]) {
     static const auto defaultProps = std::make_shared<const BottomAccessoryViewProps>();
+    _props = defaultProps;
     if (@available(iOS 26.0, *)) {
 #if SWIFT_PACKAGE
       bottomAccessoryProvider = RNCCreateBottomAccessoryProvider(self);