diff --git a/backend/src/api/nftables_api.py b/backend/src/api/nftables_api.py
index ae3f0e3..9951582 100644
--- a/backend/src/api/nftables_api.py
+++ b/backend/src/api/nftables_api.py
@@ -41,18 +41,18 @@ _current_version: Optional[str] = None
 
 # ---------------------- Pydantic models ----------------------
 class MatchModel(BaseModel):
-    iif: Optional[str]
-    oif: Optional[str]
-    meta_length: Optional[Union[int, str]]  # allow "100-200"
-    ip_proto: Optional[str]
-    tcp_dport: Optional[int]
-    udp_dport: Optional[int]
+    iif: Optional[str] = None
+    oif: Optional[str] = None
+    meta_length: Optional[Union[int, str]] = None  # allow integers or ranges like "100-200"
+    ip_proto: Optional[str] = None
+    tcp_dport: Optional[int] = None
+    udp_dport: Optional[int] = None
 
 
 class ActionModel(BaseModel):
     type: str  # drop | accept | queue | redirect
-    queue_num: Optional[int]
-    redirect_port: Optional[int]
+    queue_num: Optional[int] = None
+    redirect_port: Optional[int] = None
 
 
 class RuleModel(BaseModel):
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ class RuleModel(BaseModel):
     action: ActionModel
 
 
+
 class ReplaceResult(BaseModel):
     version: str
     applied: bool