diff --git a/src/effects/effectchain.cpp b/src/effects/effectchain.cpp
index 7d29850fea25..df88d058e4fb 100644
--- a/src/effects/effectchain.cpp
+++ b/src/effects/effectchain.cpp
@@ -202,7 +202,12 @@ const QString& EffectChain::presetName() const {
 
 void EffectChain::loadChainPreset(EffectChainPresetPointer pPreset) {
     slotControlClear(1);
-    VERIFY_OR_DEBUG_ASSERT(pPreset) {
+    if (!pPreset) {
+        // This may happen when a chain is cleared by selecting the
+        // empty '---' item in skins or DlgPrefEq (deck QuickEffects).
+        m_presetName = kNoEffectString;
+        emit chainPresetChanged(kNoEffectString);
+        setControlLoadedPresetIndex(-1);
         return;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/preferences/dialog/dlgprefeq.cpp b/src/preferences/dialog/dlgprefeq.cpp
index 390d285fdbd3..0e3fb327df90 100644
--- a/src/preferences/dialog/dlgprefeq.cpp
+++ b/src/preferences/dialog/dlgprefeq.cpp
@@ -443,10 +443,13 @@ void DlgPrefEQ::slotQuickEffectChangedOnDeck(int effectIndex) {
     QString deckGroupName = PlayerManager::groupForDeck(deckNumber);
     QString unitGroup = QuickEffectChain::formatEffectChainGroup(deckGroupName);
     EffectChainPointer pChain = m_pEffectsManager->getEffectChain(unitGroup);
-    QList<EffectChainPresetPointer> presetList =
-            m_pChainPresetManager->getQuickEffectPresetsSorted();
-    if (pChain && effectIndex > 0 && effectIndex <= presetList.size()) {
-        pChain->loadChainPreset(presetList[effectIndex - 1]);
+    QList<EffectChainPresetPointer> presetList;
+    // add nullptr for empty '---' combobox dummy item (both are first in each list)
+    presetList.append(nullptr);
+    // add available Quick Effect chains
+    presetList.append(m_pChainPresetManager->getQuickEffectPresetsSorted());
+    if (pChain && effectIndex > -1 && effectIndex <= presetList.size()) {
+        pChain->loadChainPreset(presetList[effectIndex]);
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/widget/weffectchainpresetbutton.cpp b/src/widget/weffectchainpresetbutton.cpp
index d47a62aa62c6..d283e6349415 100644
--- a/src/widget/weffectchainpresetbutton.cpp
+++ b/src/widget/weffectchainpresetbutton.cpp
@@ -50,15 +50,20 @@ void WEffectChainPresetButton::populateMenu() {
     for (const auto& pChainPreset : m_pChainPresetManager->getPresetsSorted()) {
         QString title = pChainPreset->name();
         if (title == m_pChain->presetName()) {
+            // TODO(ronso0) use icon instead to allow custom styles
             title = QChar(0x2713) + // CHECK MARK
                     QChar(' ') + title;
             chainIsPreset = true;
         }
+        // TODO(ronso0) Test if the checkmark icon can be set via checkable() state
+        // addAction(icon, title, receiver, member);
         m_pMenu->addAction(title, this, [this, pChainPreset]() {
             m_pChain->loadChainPreset(pChainPreset);
         });
     }
+
     m_pMenu->addSeparator();
+
     if (chainIsPreset) {
         m_pMenu->addAction(tr("Update Preset"), this, [this]() {
             m_pChainPresetManager->updatePreset(m_pChain);
diff --git a/src/widget/weffectchainpresetselector.cpp b/src/widget/weffectchainpresetselector.cpp
index 1b6d1d9da301..b256b3a01fdc 100644
--- a/src/widget/weffectchainpresetselector.cpp
+++ b/src/widget/weffectchainpresetselector.cpp
@@ -63,6 +63,10 @@ void WEffectChainPresetSelector::populate() {
 
     QFontMetrics metrics(font());
 
+    // Add empty item: no effect
+    addItem(kNoEffectString, kNoEffectString);
+    setItemData(0, QVariant(tr("No effect loaded.")), Qt::ToolTipRole);
+
     QList<EffectChainPresetPointer> presetList;
     if (m_bQuickEffectChain) {
         presetList = m_pEffectsManager->getChainPresetManager()->getQuickEffectPresetsSorted();
@@ -91,6 +95,7 @@ void WEffectChainPresetSelector::slotEffectChainPresetSelected(int index) {
     // After selecting an effect send Shift+Tab to move focus to the next
     // keyboard-focusable widget (tracks table in official skins) in order
     // to immediately allow keyboard shortcuts again.
+    // TODO use FocusWidget
     QKeyEvent backwardFocusKeyEvent =
             QKeyEvent{QEvent::KeyPress, Qt::Key_Backtab, Qt::NoModifier};
     QApplication::sendEvent(this, &backwardFocusKeyEvent);