diff --git a/litecord/gateway/websocket.py b/litecord/gateway/websocket.py
index 6a9bf4d..613bba8 100644
--- a/litecord/gateway/websocket.py
+++ b/litecord/gateway/websocket.py
@@ -91,7 +91,8 @@ def _complete_users_list(user_id: str, base_ready, user_ready, ws_properties) ->
         for recipient in private_channel["recipients"]:
             users_to_send[recipient["id"]] = recipient
 
-    for relationship in user_ready["relationships"]:
+    user_relationships = user_ready.get("relationships", [])
+    for relationship in user_relationships:
         relationship_user = relationship["user"]
         users_to_send[relationship_user["id"]] = relationship_user
 
@@ -101,7 +102,7 @@ def _complete_users_list(user_id: str, base_ready, user_ready, ws_properties) ->
     # relationship object structure changed in v9
     if ws_properties.version == 9:
         ready["relationships"] = []
-        for relationship in user_ready["relationships"]:
+        for relationship in user_relationships:
             ready["relationships"].append(
                 {
                     "user_id": relationship["user"]["id"],
@@ -138,7 +139,9 @@ async def _compute_supplemental(app, base_ready, user_ready, users_to_send: dict
         "guilds": [],
     }
 
-    for relationship in user_ready["relationships"]:
+    user_relationships = user_ready.get("relationships", [])
+
+    for relationship in user_relationships:
         if relationship["type"] != RelationshipType.FRIEND.value:
             continue
 
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 417b98b..e73a1f0 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -143,3 +143,25 @@ async def test_cli_staff(test_cli):
     yield client
     await client.cleanup()
     await _user_fixture_teardown(test_cli.app, test_user)
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+async def test_cli_bot(test_cli):
+    """Yield a TestClient with a bot user."""
+    # do not create a new test user to prevent race conditions caused
+    # by a test wanting both fixtures
+    app = test_cli.app
+    test_user = await _user_fixture_setup(app)
+    user_id = test_user["id"]
+
+    assert await app.db.fetchval(
+        """
+        UPDATE users SET bot = true WHERE id = $1 RETURNING bot
+        """,
+        user_id,
+    )
+
+    client = TestClient(test_cli, test_user)
+    yield client
+    await client.cleanup()
+    await _user_fixture_teardown(test_cli.app, test_user)
diff --git a/tests/test_websocket.py b/tests/test_websocket.py
index 403b142..166ad28 100644
--- a/tests/test_websocket.py
+++ b/tests/test_websocket.py
@@ -49,6 +49,28 @@ async def _close(conn):
     await conn.close(1000, "test end")
 
 
+async def extract_and_verify_ready(conn):
+    ready = await _json(conn)
+    assert ready["op"] == OP.DISPATCH
+    assert ready["t"] == "READY"
+
+    data = ready["d"]
+
+    # NOTE: change if default gateway changes
+    assert data["v"] == 6
+
+    # make sure other fields exist and are with
+    # proper types.
+    assert isinstance(data["user"], dict)
+    assert isinstance(data["private_channels"], list)
+    assert isinstance(data["guilds"], list)
+    assert isinstance(data["session_id"], str)
+    assert isinstance(data["_trace"], list)
+
+    if "shard" in data:
+        assert isinstance(data["shard"], list)
+
+
 async def get_gw(test_cli, version: int) -> str:
     """Get the Gateway URL."""
     gw_resp = await test_cli.get(f"/api/v{version}/gateway")
@@ -136,27 +158,8 @@ async def test_ready_fields(test_cli_user):
     )
 
     try:
-        ready = await _json(conn)
-        assert isinstance(ready, dict)
-        assert ready["op"] == OP.DISPATCH
-        assert ready["t"] == "READY"
+        await extract_and_verify_ready(conn)
 
-        data = ready["d"]
-        assert isinstance(data, dict)
-
-        # NOTE: change if default gateway changes
-        assert data["v"] == 6
-
-        # make sure other fields exist and are with
-        # proper types.
-        assert isinstance(data["user"], dict)
-        assert isinstance(data["private_channels"], list)
-        assert isinstance(data["guilds"], list)
-        assert isinstance(data["session_id"], str)
-        assert isinstance(data["_trace"], list)
-
-        if "shard" in data:
-            assert isinstance(data["shard"], list)
     finally:
         await _close(conn)
 
@@ -301,3 +304,17 @@ async def test_resume(test_cli_user):
     assert isinstance(msg, dict)
     assert isinstance(msg["op"], int)
     assert msg["op"] == OP.INVALID_SESSION
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_ready_bot(test_cli_bot):
+    conn = await gw_start(test_cli_bot.cli)
+    await _json(conn)  # ignore hello
+    await _json_send(
+        conn, {"op": OP.IDENTIFY, "d": {"token": test_cli_bot.user["token"]}}
+    )
+
+    try:
+        await extract_and_verify_ready(conn)
+    finally:
+        await _close(conn)