diff --git a/nym-api/nym-api-requests/src/models.rs b/nym-api/nym-api-requests/src/models.rs
index 54781cf603..05cf9f702e 100644
--- a/nym-api/nym-api-requests/src/models.rs
+++ b/nym-api/nym-api-requests/src/models.rs
@@ -612,9 +612,15 @@ pub struct NymNodeDescription {
     // for now we only care about their ws/wss situation, nothing more
     pub mixnet_websockets: WebSockets,
 
+    #[serde(default = "default_node_role")]
     pub role: NodeRole,
 }
 
+// For backwards compatibility, set a slightly artificial default
+fn default_node_role() -> NodeRole {
+    NodeRole::Inactive
+}
+
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, schemars::JsonSchema)]
 pub struct DescribedGateway {
     pub bond: GatewayBond,