diff --git a/packages/stream_chat/lib/src/models/own_user.dart b/packages/stream_chat/lib/src/models/own_user.dart
index 3ce951cf..05936cdd 100644
--- a/packages/stream_chat/lib/src/models/own_user.dart
+++ b/packages/stream_chat/lib/src/models/own_user.dart
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ class OwnUser extends User {
     this.totalUnreadCount = 0,
     this.unreadChannels,
     this.channelMutes = const [],
-    String id = '',
-    String role = '',
+    required String id,
+    String? role,
     DateTime? createdAt,
     DateTime? updatedAt,
     DateTime? lastActive,
diff --git a/packages/stream_chat/lib/src/models/own_user.g.dart b/packages/stream_chat/lib/src/models/own_user.g.dart
index 785efb04..5683440d 100644
--- a/packages/stream_chat/lib/src/models/own_user.g.dart
+++ b/packages/stream_chat/lib/src/models/own_user.g.dart
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ OwnUser _$OwnUserFromJson(Map<String, dynamic> json) {
             .toList() ??
         [],
     id: json['id'] as String,
-    role: json['role'] as String,
+    role: json['role'] as String?,
     createdAt: json['created_at'] == null
         ? null
         : DateTime.parse(json['created_at'] as String),