diff --git a/mpcontribs-client/mpcontribs/client/__init__.py b/mpcontribs-client/mpcontribs/client/__init__.py
index 037a06473..e85f838b9 100644
--- a/mpcontribs-client/mpcontribs/client/__init__.py
+++ b/mpcontribs-client/mpcontribs/client/__init__.py
@@ -1330,6 +1330,8 @@ def _set_is_public(
         if not self.project and (not query or "project" not in query):
             return {"error": "initialize client with project, or include project in query!"}
 
+        query = query or {}
+
         if self.project:
             query["project"] = self.project