diff --git a/evennia/server/session.py b/evennia/server/session.py
index 86d7a30d76..82ff9052c8 100644
--- a/evennia/server/session.py
+++ b/evennia/server/session.py
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ class Session(object):
 
         """
         if self.account:
-            self.protocol_flags.update(self.account.attributes.get("_saved_protocol_flags"), {})
+            self.protocol_flags.update(self.account.attributes.get("_saved_protocol_flags") or {})
 
     # access hooks