diff --git a/fedn/network/clients/client.py b/fedn/network/clients/client.py
index 6ea154605..8508291ff 100644
--- a/fedn/network/clients/client.py
+++ b/fedn/network/clients/client.py
@@ -248,7 +248,11 @@ def _initialize_helper(self, combiner_config):
         :return:
         """
         if "helper_type" in combiner_config.keys():
-            self.helper = get_helper(combiner_config["helper_type"])
+            if not combiner_config["helper_type"]:
+                # Default to numpyhelper
+                self.helper = get_helper("numpyhelper")
+            else:
+                self.helper = get_helper(combiner_config["helper_type"])
 
     def _subscribe_to_combiner(self, config):
         """Listen to combiner message stream and start all processing threads.