diff --git a/src/pretix/api/serializers/cart.py b/src/pretix/api/serializers/cart.py
index ecf6b0754..38d064684 100644
--- a/src/pretix/api/serializers/cart.py
+++ b/src/pretix/api/serializers/cart.py
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ class BaseCartPositionCreateSerializer(I18nAwareModelSerializer):
 
     def create(self, validated_data):
         validated_data.pop('_quotas')
-        answers_data = validated_data.pop('answers')
+        answers_data = validated_data.pop('answers', [])
 
         attendee_name = validated_data.pop('attendee_name', '')
         if attendee_name and not validated_data.get('attendee_name_parts'):