diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index a4cc5949ac..49600f09b0 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ impl<T: Runtime> ClientBuilder<T> {
             rpc,
             genesis_hash: genesis_hash?,
             metadata: metadata?,
-            properties: properties?,
+            properties: properties.unwrap_or_else(|_| Default::default()),
             runtime_version: runtime_version?,
             _marker: PhantomData,
             page_size: self.page_size.unwrap_or(10),
diff --git a/src/rpc.rs b/src/rpc.rs
index a29582abd0..969a977782 100644
--- a/src/rpc.rs
+++ b/src/rpc.rs
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ impl From<u32> for BlockNumber {
     }
 }
 
-#[derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+#[derive(serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize, Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Default)]
 #[serde(rename_all = "camelCase")]
 /// System properties for a Substrate-based runtime
 pub struct Properties {