diff --git a/characterai/characterai.py b/characterai/characterai.py
index 4156066..3977870 100644
--- a/characterai/characterai.py
+++ b/characterai/characterai.py
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ def request(
             response = session.put(link, headers=headers, json=data)
 
         data = json.loads(response.text.split("\n")[-2]) if split else response.json()
+        _log.debug(f"Response code: {response.status_code}")
         _log.debug(f"Response data: {data}")
         if str(data).startswith("{'command': 'neo_error'"):
             raise errors.ServerError(data["comment"])
@@ -320,7 +321,7 @@ def create(
             *,
             avatar_rel_path: str = "",
             base_img_prompt: str = "",
-            categories: list = [],
+            categories: list = None,
             copyable: bool = True,
             definition: str = "",
             description: str = "",
@@ -330,6 +331,8 @@ def create(
             token: str = None,
             **kwargs,
         ):
+            if categories is None:
+                categories = []
             _log.debug(
                 f"Creating character with greeting: {greeting}, identifier: {identifier}, name: {name}, additional data: {kwargs}"
             )
@@ -362,7 +365,7 @@ def update(
             identifier: str,
             name: str,
             title: str = "",
-            categories: list = [],
+            categories: list = None,
             definition: str = "",
             copyable: bool = True,
             description: str = "",
@@ -371,6 +374,8 @@ def update(
             token: str = None,
             **kwargs,
         ):
+            if categories is None:
+                categories = []
             _log.debug(
                 f"Updating character with external ID: {external_id}, greeting: {greeting}, identifier: {identifier}, name: {name}, additional data: {kwargs}"
             )
diff --git a/characterai/pyasynccai.py b/characterai/pyasynccai.py
index 67ccaaf..f968fc2 100644
--- a/characterai/pyasynccai.py
+++ b/characterai/pyasynccai.py
@@ -68,6 +68,10 @@ async def request(
                 link, headers=headers, json=data
             )
 
+        _log.debug(f"Received response: {response}. Status code: {response.status_code}")
+        _log.debug(f"Response text: {response.text}")
+
+
         if split:
             data = json.loads(response.text.split('\n')[-2])
         else: