diff --git a/src/api/client/report.rs b/src/api/client/report.rs
index 57e0d6aee..6cd8bd44f 100644
--- a/src/api/client/report.rs
+++ b/src/api/client/report.rs
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ struct Report {
 	event_id: Option<OwnedEventId>,
 	user_id: Option<OwnedUserId>,
 	report_type: String,
-	reason: Option<String>,
+	reason: String,
 }
 
 /// # `POST /_matrix/client/v3/rooms/{roomId}/report`
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn report_room_route(
 		return Err!(Request(UserSuspended("You cannot perform this action while suspended.")));
 	}
 
-	if body.reason.as_ref().is_some_and(|s| s.len() > 750) {
+	if body.reason.len() > 750 {
 		return Err!(Request(
 			InvalidParam("Reason too long, should be 750 characters or fewer",)
 		));
@@ -52,8 +52,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn report_room_route(
 	// their discretion.
 	info!(
 		"Received room report by user {sender_user} for room {} with reason: \"{}\"",
-		body.room_id,
-		body.reason.as_deref().unwrap_or("")
+		body.room_id, body.reason
 	);
 
 	if !services
@@ -78,7 +77,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn report_room_route(
 
 	services.admin.send_message(build_report(report)).await.ok();
 
-	Ok(report_room::v3::Response {})
+	Ok(report_room::v3::Response::new())
 }
 
 /// # `POST /_matrix/client/v3/rooms/{roomId}/report/{eventId}`
@@ -98,26 +97,22 @@ pub(crate) async fn report_event_route(
 
 	delay_response().await;
 
+	let reason = body
+		.reason
+		.clone()
+		.unwrap_or_else(|| "<no reason provided>".to_owned());
+
 	// check if we know about the reported event ID or if it's invalid
 	let Ok(pdu) = services.rooms.timeline.get_pdu(&body.event_id).await else {
 		return Err!(Request(NotFound("Event ID is not known to us or Event ID is invalid")));
 	};
 
-	is_event_report_valid(
-		&services,
-		&pdu.event_id,
-		&body.room_id,
-		sender_user,
-		body.reason.as_ref(),
-		&pdu,
-	)
-	.await?;
+	is_event_report_valid(&services, &pdu.event_id, &body.room_id, sender_user, &reason, &pdu)
+		.await?;
 	info!(
 		"Received event report by user {sender_user} for room {} and event ID {}, with reason: \
 		 \"{}\"",
-		body.room_id,
-		body.event_id,
-		body.reason.as_deref().unwrap_or("")
+		body.room_id, body.event_id, reason
 	);
 	let report = Report {
 		sender: sender_user.to_owned(),
@@ -125,11 +120,11 @@ pub(crate) async fn report_event_route(
 		event_id: Some(body.event_id.clone()),
 		user_id: None,
 		report_type: "event".to_owned(),
-		reason: body.reason.clone(),
+		reason,
 	};
 	services.admin.send_message(build_report(report)).await.ok();
 
-	Ok(report_content::v3::Response {})
+	Ok(report_content::v3::Response::new())
 }
 
 #[tracing::instrument(skip_all, fields(%client), name = "report_user", level = "info")]
@@ -144,7 +139,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn report_user_route(
 		return Err!(Request(UserSuspended("You cannot perform this action while suspended.")));
 	}
 
-	if body.reason.as_ref().is_some_and(|s| s.len() > 750) {
+	if body.reason.len() > 750 {
 		return Err!(Request(
 			InvalidParam("Reason too long, should be 750 characters or fewer",)
 		));
@@ -154,7 +149,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn report_user_route(
 
 	if !services.users.is_active_local(&body.user_id).await {
 		// return 200 as to not reveal if the user exists. Recommended by spec.
-		return Ok(report_user::v3::Response {});
+		return Ok(report_user::v3::Response::new());
 	}
 
 	let report = Report {
@@ -168,13 +163,12 @@ pub(crate) async fn report_user_route(
 
 	info!(
 		"Received room report from {sender_user} for user {} with reason: \"{}\"",
-		body.user_id,
-		body.reason.as_deref().unwrap_or("")
+		body.user_id, body.reason
 	);
 
 	services.admin.send_message(build_report(report)).await.ok();
 
-	Ok(report_user::v3::Response {})
+	Ok(report_user::v3::Response::new())
 }
 
 /// in the following order:
@@ -188,7 +182,7 @@ async fn is_event_report_valid(
 	event_id: &EventId,
 	room_id: &RoomId,
 	sender_user: &UserId,
-	reason: Option<&String>,
+	reason: &str,
 	pdu: &PduEvent,
 ) -> Result<()> {
 	debug_info!(
@@ -200,7 +194,7 @@ async fn is_event_report_valid(
 		return Err!(Request(NotFound("Event ID does not belong to the reported room",)));
 	}
 
-	if reason.as_ref().is_some_and(|s| s.len() > 750) {
+	if reason.len() > 750 {
 		return Err!(Request(
 			InvalidParam("Reason too long, should be 750 characters or fewer",)
 		));
@@ -232,9 +226,7 @@ fn build_report(report: Report) -> RoomMessageEventContent {
 	if report.event_id.is_some() {
 		let _ = writeln!(text, "- Reported Event ID: `{}`", report.event_id.unwrap());
 	}
-	if let Some(reason) = report.reason {
-		let _ = writeln!(text, "- Report Reason: {reason}");
-	}
+	let _ = writeln!(text, "- Report Reason: {}", report.reason);
 
 	RoomMessageEventContent::text_markdown(text).add_mentions(Mentions::with_room_mention())
 }