diff --git a/src/_internal/storage.ts b/src/_internal/storage.ts
index bbbfbde..460641b 100644
--- a/src/_internal/storage.ts
+++ b/src/_internal/storage.ts
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ export abstract class StorageController<T> implements ReactiveController {
     this.__storage = storage;
     this.__key = key;
     this.__initialValue = defaultValue;
+    this.__value = this.__readValueFromStorage();
 
     host.addController(this);
   }
diff --git a/src/test/controllers/localStorage_test.ts b/src/test/controllers/localStorage_test.ts
index 6949a64..206e7a7 100644
--- a/src/test/controllers/localStorage_test.ts
+++ b/src/test/controllers/localStorage_test.ts
@@ -103,4 +103,43 @@ suite('LocalStorageController', () => {
       assert.is(storageValue, '[5,6]');
     });
   });
+
+  suite('with saved value', () => {
+    setup(() => {
+      window.localStorage.setItem('test-key', JSON.stringify([7, 8]));
+      element = document.createElement('test-element') as TestElement;
+      element.template = () => html`${JSON.stringify(controller.value)}`;
+      document.body.appendChild(element);
+    });
+
+    suite('without default value', () => {
+      setup(async () => {
+        controller = new LocalStorageController(element, 'test-key');
+        element.controllers.push(controller);
+        await element.updateComplete;
+      });
+
+      test('initialises to saved value', () => {
+        const storageValue = window.localStorage.getItem('test-key');
+        assert.equal(controller.value, [7, 8]);
+        assert.equal(element.shadowRoot!.textContent, '[7,8]');
+        assert.is(storageValue, '[7,8]');
+      });
+
+      suite('with default value', () => {
+        setup(async () => {
+          controller = new LocalStorageController(element, 'test-key', [5, 6]);
+          element.controllers.push(controller);
+          await element.updateComplete;
+        });
+
+        test('initialises to saved value', () => {
+          const storageValue = window.localStorage.getItem('test-key');
+          assert.equal(controller.value, [7, 8]);
+          assert.equal(element.shadowRoot!.textContent, '[7,8]');
+          assert.is(storageValue, '[7,8]');
+        });
+      });
+    });
+  });
 });
diff --git a/src/test/controllers/sessionStorage_test.ts b/src/test/controllers/sessionStorage_test.ts
index 7484660..6557fed 100644
--- a/src/test/controllers/sessionStorage_test.ts
+++ b/src/test/controllers/sessionStorage_test.ts
@@ -105,5 +105,48 @@ suite('SessionStorageController', () => {
       assert.equal(element.shadowRoot!.textContent, '[5,6]');
       assert.is(storageValue, '[5,6]');
     });
+
+    suite('with saved value', () => {
+      setup(() => {
+        window.sessionStorage.setItem('test-key', JSON.stringify([7, 8]));
+        element = document.createElement('test-element') as TestElement;
+        element.template = () => html`${JSON.stringify(controller.value)}`;
+        document.body.appendChild(element);
+      });
+
+      suite('without default value', () => {
+        setup(async () => {
+          controller = new SessionStorageController(element, 'test-key');
+          element.controllers.push(controller);
+          await element.updateComplete;
+        });
+
+        test('initialises to saved value', () => {
+          const storageValue = window.sessionStorage.getItem('test-key');
+          assert.equal(controller.value, [7, 8]);
+          assert.equal(element.shadowRoot!.textContent, '[7,8]');
+          assert.is(storageValue, '[7,8]');
+        });
+
+        suite('with default value', () => {
+          setup(async () => {
+            controller = new SessionStorageController(
+              element,
+              'test-key',
+              [5, 6]
+            );
+            element.controllers.push(controller);
+            await element.updateComplete;
+          });
+
+          test('initialises to saved value', () => {
+            const storageValue = window.sessionStorage.getItem('test-key');
+            assert.equal(controller.value, [7, 8]);
+            assert.equal(element.shadowRoot!.textContent, '[7,8]');
+            assert.is(storageValue, '[7,8]');
+          });
+        });
+      });
+    });
   });
 });