diff --git a/api_service/dashboard_api_endpoints.py b/api_service/dashboard_api_endpoints.py
index 539b9e2..4fa5cc6 100644
--- a/api_service/dashboard_api_endpoints.py
+++ b/api_service/dashboard_api_endpoints.py
@@ -1075,19 +1075,20 @@ async def update_global_settings(
             )
 
         # Convert from GlobalSettings to UserSettings
+        # Provide default values for required fields when they are None
         user_settings = UserSettings(
-            model_id=settings.model,
-            temperature=settings.temperature,
-            max_tokens=settings.max_tokens,
+            model_id=settings.model or "openai/gpt-3.5-turbo",
+            temperature=settings.temperature if settings.temperature is not None else 0.7,
+            max_tokens=settings.max_tokens if settings.max_tokens is not None else 1000,
             system_message=settings.system_message,
             character=settings.character,
             character_info=settings.character_info,
             custom_instructions=settings.custom_instructions,
             custom_bot_token=settings.custom_bot_token,
-            custom_bot_enabled=settings.custom_bot_enabled,
-            custom_bot_prefix=settings.custom_bot_prefix,
-            custom_bot_status_text=settings.custom_bot_status_text,
-            custom_bot_status_type=settings.custom_bot_status_type
+            custom_bot_enabled=settings.custom_bot_enabled if settings.custom_bot_enabled is not None else False,
+            custom_bot_prefix=settings.custom_bot_prefix or "!",
+            custom_bot_status_text=settings.custom_bot_status_text or "!help",
+            custom_bot_status_type=settings.custom_bot_status_type or "listening"
         )
 
         # Add theme settings if provided