diff --git a/recommonmark/states.py b/recommonmark/states.py
index 8f44881..d926998 100644
--- a/recommonmark/states.py
+++ b/recommonmark/states.py
@@ -82,6 +82,12 @@ class DummyStateMachine(StateMachineWS):
         node : docutil Node
             Node generated by the arguments.
         """
+        if options is None:
+            options = {}
+        if content is None:
+            content = []
+        if arguments is None:
+            arguments = []
         direc, msg = directive(name,
                                self.language,
                                self.document)
@@ -111,6 +117,10 @@ class DummyStateMachine(StateMachineWS):
         node : docutil Node
             Node generated by the arguments.
         """
+        if options is None:
+            options = {}
+        if content is None:
+            content = []
         role_fn, msg = role(name,
                             self.language,
                             self.node.line,