diff --git a/packages/nuxt3/src/app/composables/cookie.ts b/packages/nuxt3/src/app/composables/cookie.ts
index 1a6602cce1..99ce33c0be 100644
--- a/packages/nuxt3/src/app/composables/cookie.ts
+++ b/packages/nuxt3/src/app/composables/cookie.ts
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ function readRawCookies (opts: CookieOptions = {}): Record<string, string> {
 
 function serializeCookie (name: string, value: any, opts: CookieSerializeOptions = {}) {
   if (value === null || value === undefined) {
-    opts.maxAge = -1
+    return serialize(name, value, { ...opts, maxAge: -1 })
   }
   return serialize(name, value, opts)
 }