diff --git a/src/backend/base/langflow/services/database/models/message/model.py b/src/backend/base/langflow/services/database/models/message/model.py
index ed36af3c9..5a775d3d9 100644
--- a/src/backend/base/langflow/services/database/models/message/model.py
+++ b/src/backend/base/langflow/services/database/models/message/model.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ from datetime import datetime, timezone
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, List, Optional
 from uuid import UUID, uuid4
 
+from pydantic import field_validator
 from sqlmodel import JSON, Column, Field, Relationship, SQLModel
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
@@ -17,6 +18,13 @@ class MessageBase(SQLModel):
     text: str
     files: list[str] = Field(default_factory=list)
 
+    @field_validator("files", mode="before")
+    @classmethod
+    def validate_files(cls, value):
+        if not value:
+            value = []
+        return value
+
     @classmethod
     def from_message(cls, message: "Message", flow_id: str | None = None):
         # first check if the record has all the required fields