diff --git a/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/models.py b/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/models.py
index 7b360a1..c8284b4 100644
--- a/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/models.py
+++ b/mastodon_blocklist_deploy/models.py
@@ -37,14 +37,19 @@ class Instance:
         return exportable
 
     def parse_remote_block(self, instance_dict):
-        self.domain = instance_dict["domain"]
-        self.id = instance_dict["id"]
-        self.severity = instance_dict["severity"]
-        self.public_comment = instance_dict["public_comment"]
-        self.private_comment = instance_dict["private_comment"]
-        self.obfuscate = instance_dict["obfuscate"]
-        self.reject_media = instance_dict["reject_media"]
-        self.reject_reports = instance_dict["reject_reports"]
+        # this specifies possible properties and default values if not found on the remote source. If a default is None
+        # the value is required and the parse will fail
+        properties_and_defaults = [("domain", None), ("id", None), ("severity", "suspend"), ("public_comment", ""),
+                                   ("private_comment", ""), ("obfuscate", False), ("reject_media", True),
+                                   ("reject_reports", True)]
+        for key, default in properties_and_defaults:
+            try:
+                setattr(self, key, instance_dict[key])
+            except KeyError:
+                if default is not None:
+                    setattr(self, key, default)
+                else:
+                    raise KeyError(f"The key {key} was not in the remote servers response.")
 
     def parse_local_block(self, instance_dict):
         try: