diff --git a/mcstatus/pinger.py b/mcstatus/pinger.py
index 9fcbf64..5fa6f73 100644
--- a/mcstatus/pinger.py
+++ b/mcstatus/pinger.py
@@ -103,6 +103,8 @@ class PingResponse:
                 if type(raw["sample"]) is not list:
                     raise ValueError("Invalid players object (expected 'sample' to be list, was %s)" % type(raw["max"]))
                 self.sample = [PingResponse.Players.Player(p) for p in raw["sample"]]
+            else:
+                self.sample = None
 
     class Version:
         def __init__(self, raw):
@@ -138,5 +140,7 @@ class PingResponse:
 
         if "favicon" in raw:
             self.favicon = raw["favicon"]
+        else:
+            self.favicon = None
 
         self.latency = None
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/mcstatus/tests/test_pinger.py b/mcstatus/tests/test_pinger.py
index e42ad30..419fe9e 100644
--- a/mcstatus/tests/test_pinger.py
+++ b/mcstatus/tests/test_pinger.py
@@ -97,6 +97,11 @@ class TestPingResponse(TestCase):
 
         self.assertEqual(response.favicon, "data:image/png;base64,foo")
 
+    def test_favicon_missing(self):
+        response = PingResponse({"description":"A Minecraft Server","players":{"max":20,"online":0},"version":{"name":"1.8-pre1","protocol":44}})
+
+        self.assertIsNone(response.favicon)
+
 class TestPingResponsePlayers(TestCase):
     def test_invalid(self):
         self.assertRaises(ValueError, PingResponse.Players, "foo")
@@ -128,6 +133,10 @@ class TestPingResponsePlayers(TestCase):
     def test_sample_invalid(self):
         self.assertRaises(ValueError, PingResponse.Players, {"max":20,"online":1,"sample":"foo"})
 
+    def test_sample_missing(self):
+        players = PingResponse.Players({"max":20,"online":1})
+        self.assertIsNone(players.sample)
+
 
 class TestPingResponsePlayersPlayer(TestCase):
     def test_invalid(self):