diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 379170d..92a3533 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "@sats-connect/core",
-  "version": "0.17.5",
+  "version": "0.17.6",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "@sats-connect/core",
-      "version": "0.17.5",
+      "version": "0.17.6",
       "license": "ISC",
       "dependencies": {
         "axios": "1.13.5",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index e639c1a..28431d1 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@sats-connect/core",
-  "version": "0.17.5",
+  "version": "0.17.6",
   "main": "dist/index.mjs",
   "module": "dist/index.mjs",
   "types": "dist/index.d.mts",
diff --git a/src/request/rpc/objects/namespaces/wallet/methods/requestPermissions/request.ts b/src/request/rpc/objects/namespaces/wallet/methods/requestPermissions/request.ts
index 05a152b..299bac7 100644
--- a/src/request/rpc/objects/namespaces/wallet/methods/requestPermissions/request.ts
+++ b/src/request/rpc/objects/namespaces/wallet/methods/requestPermissions/request.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,16 @@ import { walletMethods } from 'src/request/methods';
 import * as v from 'valibot';
 import { permissionRequestParamsSchema } from '../../shared/permissions';
 
-export const walletRequestPermissionsParamsSchema = v.array(permissionRequestParamsSchema);
+/**
+ * This method was previously used to connect to the wallet similarly to how
+ * `wallet_connect` is used now: when no permissions are explicitly requested,
+ * account read permissions are implied. The `nullish` schema allows maintaining
+ * backwards compatibility with this behavior while still allowing for explicit
+ * permission requests.
+ */
+export const walletRequestPermissionsParamsSchema = v.nullish(
+  v.array(permissionRequestParamsSchema)
+);
 
 export type WalletRequestPermissionsParams = v.InferOutput<
   typeof walletRequestPermissionsParamsSchema