diff --git a/server.js b/server.js
index d20b69b65..9a1d40c91 100644
--- a/server.js
+++ b/server.js
@@ -761,7 +761,7 @@ function convertToV2(char) {
         tags: char.tags,
     });
 
-    result.chat = char.chat;
+    result.chat = char.chat ?? humanizedISO8601DateTime();
     result.create_date = char.create_date;
     return result;
 }
@@ -820,6 +820,8 @@ function readFromV2(char) {
         char[charField] = v2Value;
     });
 
+    char['chat'] = char['chat'] ?? humanizedISO8601DateTime();
+
     return char;
 }