diff --git a/packages/shared/src/validators/access.ts b/packages/shared/src/validators/access.ts
index 8aaed6babcb..8cd8f5c3a06 100644
--- a/packages/shared/src/validators/access.ts
+++ b/packages/shared/src/validators/access.ts
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ export type UpdateCompanyMember = z.infer<typeof updateCompanyMemberSchema>;
 export const updateCompanyMemberWithPermissionsSchema = z.object({
   membershipRole: z.enum(HUMAN_COMPANY_MEMBERSHIP_ROLES).optional().nullable(),
   status: z.enum(MEMBERSHIP_STATUSES).optional(),
-  grants: updateMemberPermissionsSchema.shape.grants,
+  grants: updateMemberPermissionsSchema.shape.grants.default([]),
 }).refine((value) => value.membershipRole !== undefined || value.status !== undefined, {
   message: "membershipRole or status is required",
 });
diff --git a/server/src/__tests__/access-validators.test.ts b/server/src/__tests__/access-validators.test.ts
index 4149440ba83..6fa63b9e8c1 100644
--- a/server/src/__tests__/access-validators.test.ts
+++ b/server/src/__tests__/access-validators.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
-import { updateCurrentUserProfileSchema } from "@paperclipai/shared";
+import {
+  updateCompanyMemberWithPermissionsSchema,
+  updateCurrentUserProfileSchema,
+} from "@paperclipai/shared";
 
 describe("access validators", () => {
   it("accepts HTTP(S) and Paperclip asset image URLs", () => {
@@ -19,4 +22,12 @@ describe("access validators", () => {
       image: "data:image/png;base64,AAAA",
     }).success).toBe(false);
   });
+
+  it("defaults omitted combined member grants to an empty list", () => {
+    const result = updateCompanyMemberWithPermissionsSchema.parse({
+      membershipRole: "operator",
+    });
+
+    expect(result.grants).toEqual([]);
+  });
 });