diff --git a/pyiceberg/catalog/rest/__init__.py b/pyiceberg/catalog/rest/__init__.py
index 3f59a196ea..6215d17a4f 100644
--- a/pyiceberg/catalog/rest/__init__.py
+++ b/pyiceberg/catalog/rest/__init__.py
@@ -178,8 +178,8 @@ class RegisterTableRequest(IcebergBaseModel):
 
 
 class ConfigResponse(IcebergBaseModel):
-    defaults: Properties = Field()
-    overrides: Properties = Field()
+    defaults: Optional[Properties] = Field(default_factory=dict)
+    overrides: Optional[Properties] = Field(default_factory=dict)
 
 
 class ListNamespaceResponse(IcebergBaseModel):