diff --git a/worlds/sm/variaRandomizer/rom/rom.py b/worlds/sm/variaRandomizer/rom/rom.py
index f0f37b76..05218ff5 100644
--- a/worlds/sm/variaRandomizer/rom/rom.py
+++ b/worlds/sm/variaRandomizer/rom/rom.py
@@ -89,9 +89,12 @@ class ROM(object):
 
 class FakeROM(ROM):
     # to have the same code for real ROM and the webservice
-    def __init__(self, data={}):
+    def __init__(self, data=None):
         super(FakeROM, self).__init__()
-        self.data = data
+        if data is None:
+            self.data = {}
+        else:
+            self.data = data
         self.ipsPatches = []
 
     def write(self, bytes):