diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index d6374989a..6b2569e68 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -7,6 +7,10 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+### Fixed
+
+- Make sure `contain-*` utility variables resolve to a valid value ([#13521](https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/pull/13521))
+
 ## Changed
 
 - Use `rem` units for breakpoints by default instead of `px` ([#13469](https://github.com/tailwindlabs/tailwindcss/pull/13469))
diff --git a/packages/tailwindcss/src/utilities.test.ts b/packages/tailwindcss/src/utilities.test.ts
index 2ff35b1cb..8983840af 100644
--- a/packages/tailwindcss/src/utilities.test.ts
+++ b/packages/tailwindcss/src/utilities.test.ts
@@ -10612,12 +10612,12 @@ test('contain', () => {
 
     .contain-inline-size {
       --tw-contain-size: inline-size;
-      contain: var(--tw-contain-size) var(--tw-contain-layout) var(--tw-contain-paint) var(--tw-contain-style);
+      contain: var(--tw-contain-size, ) var(--tw-contain-layout, ) var(--tw-contain-paint, ) var(--tw-contain-style, );
     }
 
     .contain-layout {
       --tw-contain-layout: layout;
-      contain: var(--tw-contain-size) var(--tw-contain-layout) var(--tw-contain-paint) var(--tw-contain-style);
+      contain: var(--tw-contain-size, ) var(--tw-contain-layout, ) var(--tw-contain-paint, ) var(--tw-contain-style, );
     }
 
     .contain-none {
@@ -10626,12 +10626,12 @@ test('contain', () => {
 
     .contain-paint {
       --tw-contain-paint: paint;
-      contain: var(--tw-contain-size) var(--tw-contain-layout) var(--tw-contain-paint) var(--tw-contain-style);
+      contain: var(--tw-contain-size, ) var(--tw-contain-layout, ) var(--tw-contain-paint, ) var(--tw-contain-style, );
     }
 
     .contain-size {
       --tw-contain-size: size;
-      contain: var(--tw-contain-size) var(--tw-contain-layout) var(--tw-contain-paint) var(--tw-contain-style);
+      contain: var(--tw-contain-size, ) var(--tw-contain-layout, ) var(--tw-contain-paint, ) var(--tw-contain-style, );
     }
 
     .contain-strict {
@@ -10640,7 +10640,7 @@ test('contain', () => {
 
     .contain-style {
       --tw-contain-style: style;
-      contain: var(--tw-contain-size) var(--tw-contain-layout) var(--tw-contain-paint) var(--tw-contain-style);
+      contain: var(--tw-contain-size, ) var(--tw-contain-layout, ) var(--tw-contain-paint, ) var(--tw-contain-style, );
     }
 
     @property --tw-contain-size {
diff --git a/packages/tailwindcss/src/utilities.ts b/packages/tailwindcss/src/utilities.ts
index 53c4cc835..473dc4e23 100644
--- a/packages/tailwindcss/src/utilities.ts
+++ b/packages/tailwindcss/src/utilities.ts
@@ -3691,7 +3691,7 @@ export function createUtilities(theme: Theme) {
 
   {
     let cssContainValue =
-      'var(--tw-contain-size) var(--tw-contain-layout) var(--tw-contain-paint) var(--tw-contain-style)'
+      'var(--tw-contain-size,) var(--tw-contain-layout,) var(--tw-contain-paint,) var(--tw-contain-style,)'
     let cssContainProperties = () => {
       return atRoot([
         property('--tw-contain-size'),