diff --git a/client/ayon_core/tools/common_models/projects.py b/client/ayon_core/tools/common_models/projects.py
index 9bbdc8a75c..f2599c9c9b 100644
--- a/client/ayon_core/tools/common_models/projects.py
+++ b/client/ayon_core/tools/common_models/projects.py
@@ -441,6 +441,7 @@ class ProjectsModel(object):
             .get("frontendPreferences", {})
             .get("pinnedProjects")
         ) or []
+        pinned_projects = set(pinned_projects)
         project_items = _get_project_items_from_entitiy(list(projects))
         for project in project_items:
             project.is_pinned = project.name in pinned_projects