diff --git a/lib/msg-v3/index.js b/lib/msg-v3/index.js
index 8faeb65..77510d9 100644
--- a/lib/msg-v3/index.js
+++ b/lib/msg-v3/index.js
@@ -151,15 +151,13 @@ function create(opts) {
   const accountTips = opts.accountTips ? opts.accountTips.sort() : null
 
   const tangles = /** @type {Msg['metadata']['tangles']} */ ({})
-  if (opts.tangles) {
-    for (const rootID in opts.tangles) {
-      if ((err = validateMsgID(rootID))) throw err
-      const tangle = opts.tangles[rootID]
-      const depth = tangle.maxDepth + 1
-      const lipmaaSet = tangle.getLipmaaSet(depth)
-      const prev = [...union(lipmaaSet, tangle.tips)].sort()
-      tangles[rootID] = { depth, prev }
-    }
+  for (const rootID in opts.tangles) {
+    if ((err = validateMsgID(rootID))) throw err
+    const tangle = opts.tangles[rootID]
+    const depth = tangle.maxDepth + 1
+    const lipmaaSet = tangle.getLipmaaSet(depth)
+    const prev = [...union(lipmaaSet, tangle.tips)].sort()
+    tangles[rootID] = { depth, prev }
   }
 
   /** @type {Msg} */