diff --git a/chatkit/actions.py b/chatkit/actions.py
index 689a8f1..9048f63 100644
--- a/chatkit/actions.py
+++ b/chatkit/actions.py
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ class ActionConfig(BaseModel):
 
 class Action(BaseModel, Generic[TType, TPayload]):
     type: TType = Field(default=TType, frozen=True)  # pyright: ignore
-    payload: TPayload
+    payload: TPayload = None # pyright: ignore - default to None to allow no-payload actions
 
     @classmethod
     def create(