diff --git a/src/backend/langflow/api/v1/schemas.py b/src/backend/langflow/api/v1/schemas.py
index 9d8314d48..e28d9bca1 100644
--- a/src/backend/langflow/api/v1/schemas.py
+++ b/src/backend/langflow/api/v1/schemas.py
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ class VerticesBuiltResponse(BaseModel):
 
 
 class InputValueRequest(BaseModel):
-    components: Optional[List[str]] = None
+    components: Optional[List[str]] = []
     input_value: Optional[str] = None
 
     # add an example
diff --git a/src/backend/langflow/graph/graph/base.py b/src/backend/langflow/graph/graph/base.py
index 96da64eda..07a403cfd 100644
--- a/src/backend/langflow/graph/graph/base.py
+++ b/src/backend/langflow/graph/graph/base.py
@@ -202,8 +202,10 @@ class Graph:
         for input_dict in inputs:
             components: Union[str, list[str]] = input_dict.get("components", [])
 
-            if not isinstance(components, list):
-                components = [components]
+            if components and not isinstance(components, list):
+                raise ValueError(f"Invalid components value: {components}. Expected list")
+            elif components is None:
+                components = []
 
             if INPUT_FIELD_NAME not in input_dict:
                 input_value = ""