diff --git a/api/ask_astro/models/request.py b/api/ask_astro/models/request.py
index 97f79b7c..06be7f83 100644
--- a/api/ask_astro/models/request.py
+++ b/api/ask_astro/models/request.py
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class AskAstroRequest(BaseModel):
         False,
         description="Whether the request is an example",
     )
-    client: str = Field(None, description="The client type used to send the request -- webapp/slack")
+    client: str | None = Field(None, description="The client type used to send the request -- webapp/slack")
 
     def to_firestore(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
         """
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ def from_dict(cls, response_dict: dict[str, Any]) -> AskAstroRequest:
             response_received_at=response_dict.get("response_received_at"),
             is_processed=response_dict.get("is_processed", False),
             is_example=response_dict.get("is_example", False),
-            client=response_dict["client"],
+            client=response_dict.get("client", None),
         )