diff --git a/src/faebryk/libs/kicad/fileformats.py b/src/faebryk/libs/kicad/fileformats.py
index 709754cb..cba0b273 100644
--- a/src/faebryk/libs/kicad/fileformats.py
+++ b/src/faebryk/libs/kicad/fileformats.py
@@ -1164,8 +1164,8 @@ class C_group:
 class C_kicad_footprint_file(SEXP_File):
     @dataclass(kw_only=True)
     class C_footprint_in_file(C_footprint):
-        descr: str
-        tags: list[str]
+        descr: Optional[str] = None
+        tags: Optional[list[str]] = None
         version: int = field(**sexp_field(assert_value=20240108), default=20240108)
         generator: str
         generator_version: str