diff --git a/pyapi/server/validation.py b/pyapi/server/validation.py
index 3559592..6749c99 100644
--- a/pyapi/server/validation.py
+++ b/pyapi/server/validation.py
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ async def from_request(cls, request: Request) -> OpenAPIRequest:
             method=request.method.casefold(),
             parameters=parameters,
             body=(await request.body()).decode(),
-            mimetype=request.headers.get("content-type"),
+            mimetype=request.headers.get("content-type", ""),
         )
 
 
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 92bd9e0..3330c48 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [tool.poetry]
 name = "pyapi-server"
-version = "0.2.2"
+version = "0.2.3"
 description = "Lightweight API framework using an OpenAPI spec for routing and validation."
 authors = ["Berislav Lopac <berislav@lopac.net>"]
 license = "MIT"
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ packages = [
 python = "^3.8"
 PyYAML = "^6.0"
 stringcase = "^1.2.0"
-starlette = "^0.20.4"
+starlette = "^0.21.0"
 openapi-core = "^0.15.0"
 uvicorn = {version = "^0.18.3", optional = true}
 
diff --git a/release-notes/0.2.3.md b/release-notes/0.2.3.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..622dd49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/release-notes/0.2.3.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+* updated dependency versions
+* slightly improved documentation