diff --git a/hbd/server/http.py b/hbd/server/http.py
index ad805f7..ca3d0cf 100644
--- a/hbd/server/http.py
+++ b/hbd/server/http.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def _build_threshold_configs_from_form(form_data: dict) -> dict:
         metrics = cfg.get("metrics")
         if not isinstance(metrics, dict):
             continue
-        thresholds = {}
+        thresholds: dict = {}
         for metric_path, values in metrics.items():
             _insert_threshold_metric(thresholds, metric_path, values)
         entry = {"thresholds": thresholds}
diff --git a/hbd/server/settings.py b/hbd/server/settings.py
index 1e2541a..1286646 100644
--- a/hbd/server/settings.py
+++ b/hbd/server/settings.py
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ def get_settings_sections(config: dict, threshold_checker=None, user=None) -> li
         }
     """
     is_admin = user is None or getattr(user, "admin", False)
-    username = getattr(user, "username", None)
+    username: str = getattr(user, "username", "") or ""
 
     def field(key, label, ftype, description="", editable=False, sensitive=False):
         raw = config.get(key)
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ def get_settings_sections(config: dict, threshold_checker=None, user=None) -> li
             "logo": pattrs.get("logo", ""),
         })
 
-    sections = [
+    sections: list = [
         {
             "id": "network",
             "title": "Network",
@@ -523,7 +523,7 @@ def get_settings_data(config: dict, threshold_checker=None, user=None) -> dict:
     """Return sections list + auxiliary data for the settings template."""
     sections = get_settings_sections(config, threshold_checker=threshold_checker, user=user)
     is_admin = user is None or getattr(user, "admin", False)
-    username = getattr(user, "username", None)
+    username: str = getattr(user, "username", "") or ""
     channels = config.get("notification_channels") or {}
     threshold_cfgs = config.get("threshold_configs") or {}
     if not is_admin: