diff --git a/lnbits/core/crud.py b/lnbits/core/crud.py
index b2c0f7a8d..9dd0be5b5 100644
--- a/lnbits/core/crud.py
+++ b/lnbits/core/crud.py
@@ -426,11 +426,10 @@ async def get_payments(
     Filters payments to be returned by complete | pending | outgoing | incoming.
     """
 
-    if not filters:
-        filters = Filters()
+    filters = filters or Filters()
 
-    filters.sortby = "time" or filters.sortby
-    filters.direction = "desc" or filters.direction
+    filters.sortby = filters.sortby or "time"
+    filters.direction = filters.direction or "desc"
     filters.limit = limit or filters.limit
     filters.offset = offset or filters.offset