diff --git a/beets/plugins.py b/beets/plugins.py
index 810df3a45..b5c3d421b 100644
--- a/beets/plugins.py
+++ b/beets/plugins.py
@@ -151,9 +151,9 @@ class BeetsPlugin(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
         list
     )
     listeners: ClassVar[dict[EventType, list[Listener]]] = defaultdict(list)
-    template_funcs: TFuncMap[str] | None = None
-    template_fields: TFuncMap[Item] | None = None
-    album_template_fields: TFuncMap[Album] | None = None
+    template_funcs: ClassVar[TFuncMap[str]] = {}
+    template_fields: ClassVar[TFuncMap[Item]] = {}
+    album_template_fields: ClassVar[TFuncMap[Album]] = {}
 
     name: str
     config: ConfigView
@@ -222,11 +222,11 @@ class BeetsPlugin(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
         # Set class attributes if they are not already set
         # for the type of plugin.
         if not self.template_funcs:
-            self.template_funcs = {}
+            self.template_funcs = {}  # type: ignore[misc]
         if not self.template_fields:
-            self.template_fields = {}
+            self.template_fields = {}  # type: ignore[misc]
         if not self.album_template_fields:
-            self.album_template_fields = {}
+            self.album_template_fields = {}  # type: ignore[misc]
 
         self.early_import_stages = []
         self.import_stages = []
@@ -368,8 +368,6 @@ class BeetsPlugin(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
         """
 
         def helper(func: TFunc[str]) -> TFunc[str]:
-            if cls.template_funcs is None:
-                cls.template_funcs = {}
             cls.template_funcs[name] = func
             return func
 
@@ -384,8 +382,6 @@ class BeetsPlugin(metaclass=abc.ABCMeta):
         """
 
         def helper(func: TFunc[Item]) -> TFunc[Item]:
-            if cls.template_fields is None:
-                cls.template_fields = {}
             cls.template_fields[name] = func
             return func
 
@@ -565,8 +561,7 @@ def template_funcs() -> TFuncMap[str]:
     """
     funcs: TFuncMap[str] = {}
     for plugin in find_plugins():
-        if plugin.template_funcs:
-            funcs.update(plugin.template_funcs)
+        funcs.update(plugin.template_funcs)
     return funcs
 
 
@@ -592,21 +587,20 @@ F = TypeVar("F")
 
 
 def _check_conflicts_and_merge(
-    plugin: BeetsPlugin, plugin_funcs: dict[str, F] | None, funcs: dict[str, F]
+    plugin: BeetsPlugin, plugin_funcs: dict[str, F], funcs: dict[str, F]
 ) -> None:
     """Check the provided template functions for conflicts and merge into funcs.
 
     Raises a `PluginConflictError` if a plugin defines template functions
     for fields that another plugin has already defined template functions for.
     """
-    if plugin_funcs:
-        if not plugin_funcs.keys().isdisjoint(funcs.keys()):
-            conflicted_fields = ", ".join(plugin_funcs.keys() & funcs.keys())
-            raise PluginConflictError(
-                f"Plugin {plugin.name} defines template functions for "
-                f"{conflicted_fields} that conflict with another plugin."
-            )
-        funcs.update(plugin_funcs)
+    if not plugin_funcs.keys().isdisjoint(funcs.keys()):
+        conflicted_fields = ", ".join(plugin_funcs.keys() & funcs.keys())
+        raise PluginConflictError(
+            f"Plugin {plugin.name} defines template functions for "
+            f"{conflicted_fields} that conflict with another plugin."
+        )
+    funcs.update(plugin_funcs)
 
 
 def item_field_getters() -> TFuncMap[Item]: