diff --git a/packages/dart_client/lib/src/models/channel_model.dart b/packages/dart_client/lib/src/models/channel_model.dart
index ff9d04a8..046e29c5 100644
--- a/packages/dart_client/lib/src/models/channel_model.dart
+++ b/packages/dart_client/lib/src/models/channel_model.dart
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ class ChannelModel {
   /// Returns a new [ChannelModel] that is a combination of this channelModel and the given
   /// [other] channelModel.
   ChannelModel merge(ChannelModel other) {
-    if (other == null) return null;
+    if (other == null) return this;
     return copyWith(
       id: other.id,
       type: other.type,
diff --git a/packages/dart_client/lib/src/models/message.dart b/packages/dart_client/lib/src/models/message.dart
index 2acbea29..e23eb51a 100644
--- a/packages/dart_client/lib/src/models/message.dart
+++ b/packages/dart_client/lib/src/models/message.dart
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ class Message {
   /// Returns a new [Message] that is a combination of this message and the given
   /// [other] message.
   Message merge(Message other) {
-    if (other == null) return null;
+    if (other == null) return this;
     return copyWith(
       id: other.id,
       text: other.text,