diff --git a/sopel_modules/SpiceBot/Prerun.py b/sopel_modules/SpiceBot/Prerun.py
index 77f8c35..e16f07a 100644
--- a/sopel_modules/SpiceBot/Prerun.py
+++ b/sopel_modules/SpiceBot/Prerun.py
@@ -439,6 +439,9 @@ def trigger_cant_run(bot, trigger, botcom, message=None):
 
 def updatable_content(bot, botcom, trigger):
     # commands that can be updated
+    if "updates_enabled" not in list(botcom.dict["dict"][botcom.dict["responsekey"]].keys()):
+        botcom.dict["dict"][botcom.dict["responsekey"]]["updates_enabled"] = False
+
     if botcom.dict["dict"][botcom.dict["responsekey"]]["updates_enabled"]:
         customresponses = []
         if botcom.dict["dict"][botcom.dict["responsekey"]]["updates_enabled"] == "shared":
@@ -473,12 +476,24 @@ def special_handling(botcom):
                 posscom = command
         botcom.dict["responsekey"] = posscom
 
+    botcom = dictkey_defaults(botcom)
+
     if botcom.dict["responsekey"] != "?default":
         botcom.dict['args'] = spicemanip(botcom.dict['args'], '2+', 'list')
 
     return botcom
 
 
+def dictkey_defaults(botcom):
+    if botcom.dict["responsekey"] not in list(botcom.dict["dict"].keys()):
+        botcom.dict["dict"][botcom.dict["responsekey"]] = {}
+    if "selection_allowed" not in list(botcom.dict["dict"][botcom.dict["responsekey"]].keys()):
+        botcom.dict["dict"][botcom.dict["responsekey"]]["selection_allowed"] = True
+    if "responses" not in list(botcom.dict["dict"][botcom.dict["responsekey"]].keys()):
+        botcom.dict["dict"][botcom.dict["responsekey"]]["responses"] = []
+    return botcom
+
+
 def trigger_hyphen_args(botcom):
 
     hyphen_args = []