deadline = models.DateTimeField(_('deadline'))
     max_points = models.IntegerField(_('max points'))
     experts = models.ManyToManyField(User, verbose_name=_('experts'), related_name='stage2_assignments')
-    arbiters = models.ManyToManyField(User, verbose_name=_('arbiters'), related_name='stage2_arbitrated')
+    arbiters = models.ManyToManyField(
+        User, empty=True, verbose_name=_('arbiters'), related_name='stage2_arbitrated')
     file_descriptions = JSONField(_('file descriptions'))
 
     class Meta: