diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py b/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py
index 170bdfb9..791502d0 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitypub/base_activity.py
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ class ActivityObject:
         for field in fields(self):
             try:
                 value = kwargs[field.name]
-                if value in (None, MISSING):
+                if value in (None, MISSING, {}):
                     raise KeyError()
                 try:
                     is_subclass = issubclass(field.type, ActivityObject)
diff --git a/bookwyrm/activitypub/person.py b/bookwyrm/activitypub/person.py
index ba86b036..f1298b92 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/activitypub/person.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/activitypub/person.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class Person(ActivityObject):
     outbox: str
     followers: str
     publicKey: PublicKey
-    endpoints: Dict
+    endpoints: Dict = None
     name: str = None
     summary: str = None
     icon: Image = field(default_factory=lambda: {})
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/fields.py b/bookwyrm/models/fields.py
index 1ca0b377..1bdc6c45 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/fields.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/fields.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class ActivitypubFieldMixin:
                 raise
             value = getattr(data, "actor")
         formatted = self.field_from_activity(value)
-        if formatted is None or formatted is MISSING:
+        if formatted is None or formatted is MISSING or formatted == {}:
             return
         setattr(instance, self.name, formatted)
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ class ActivitypubFieldMixin:
 
     def field_from_activity(self, value):
         """ formatter to convert activitypub into a model value """
-        if hasattr(self, "activitypub_wrapper"):
+        if value and hasattr(self, "activitypub_wrapper"):
             value = value.get(self.activitypub_wrapper)
         return value