diff --git a/src/aics-image-viewer/shared/utils/viewerState.ts b/src/aics-image-viewer/shared/utils/viewerState.ts
index 3a35e8e8..119a6108 100644
--- a/src/aics-image-viewer/shared/utils/viewerState.ts
+++ b/src/aics-image-viewer/shared/utils/viewerState.ts
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ export function colorHexToArray(hex: string): ColorArray | null {
 }
 
 export function initializeOneChannelSetting(
-  channel: string,
+  channelName: string,
   index: number,
   defaultColor: ColorArray,
   viewerChannelSettings?: ViewerChannelSettings,
@@ -61,11 +61,11 @@ export function initializeOneChannelSetting(
   let initSettings = {} as Partial<ViewerChannelSetting>;
   if (viewerChannelSettings) {
     // search for channel in settings using groups, names and match values
-    initSettings = findFirstChannelMatch(channel, index, viewerChannelSettings) ?? {};
+    initSettings = findFirstChannelMatch(channelName, index, viewerChannelSettings) ?? {};
   }
 
   return {
-    name: channel ?? "Channel " + index,
+    name: channelName ?? "Channel " + index,
     volumeEnabled: initSettings.enabled ?? defaultChannelState.volumeEnabled,
     isosurfaceEnabled: initSettings.surfaceEnabled ?? defaultChannelState.isosurfaceEnabled,
     colorizeEnabled: initSettings.colorizeEnabled ?? defaultChannelState.colorizeEnabled,