diff --git a/async_substrate_interface/substrate_addons.py b/async_substrate_interface/substrate_addons.py
index c9ca1e8..8d19fc7 100644
--- a/async_substrate_interface/substrate_addons.py
+++ b/async_substrate_interface/substrate_addons.py
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@ def __init__(
         archive_nodes: Optional[list[str]] = None,
     ):
         fallback_chains = fallback_chains or []
+        archive_nodes = archive_nodes or []
         self.fallback_chains = (
             iter(fallback_chains)
             if not retry_forever
@@ -262,6 +263,7 @@ def __init__(
         archive_nodes: Optional[list[str]] = None,
     ):
         fallback_chains = fallback_chains or []
+        archive_nodes = archive_nodes or []
         self.fallback_chains = (
             iter(fallback_chains)
             if not retry_forever