diff --git a/lib/src/event.dart b/lib/src/event.dart
index 608d3f1f..051093c5 100644
--- a/lib/src/event.dart
+++ b/lib/src/event.dart
@@ -626,16 +626,15 @@ class Event extends MatrixEvent {
 
   /// Get the relationship type of an event. `null` if there is none
   String get relationshipType {
-    if (content == null || !(content['m.relates_to'] is Map)) {
+    if (content?.tryGet<Map<String, dynamic>>('m.relates_to') == null) {
       return null;
     }
-    if (content['m.relates_to'].containsKey('rel_type')) {
-      return content['m.relates_to']['rel_type'];
-    }
     if (content['m.relates_to'].containsKey('m.in_reply_to')) {
       return RelationshipTypes.Reply;
     }
-    return null;
+    return content
+        .tryGet<Map<String, dynamic>>('m.relates_to')
+        .tryGet<String>('rel_type');
   }
 
   /// Get the event ID that this relationship will reference. `null` if there is none
diff --git a/test/event_test.dart b/test/event_test.dart
index 6bbcdeac..ccd98e41 100644
--- a/test/event_test.dart
+++ b/test/event_test.dart
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ void main() {
 
       jsonObj['type'] = 'm.room.message';
       jsonObj['content']['msgtype'] = 'm.text';
-      jsonObj['content']['m.relates_to'] = {};
+      jsonObj['content']['m.relates_to'] = <String, dynamic>{};
       jsonObj['content']['m.relates_to']['m.in_reply_to'] = {
         'event_id': '1234',
       };