diff --git a/backend/ee/danswer/server/seeding.py b/backend/ee/danswer/server/seeding.py
index cd0f9e634..9047d7c2f 100644
--- a/backend/ee/danswer/server/seeding.py
+++ b/backend/ee/danswer/server/seeding.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ class SeedConfiguration(BaseModel):
 
 def _parse_env() -> SeedConfiguration | None:
     seed_config_str = os.getenv(_SEED_CONFIG_ENV_VAR_NAME)
-    if seed_config_str is None:
+    if not seed_config_str:
         return None
     seed_config = SeedConfiguration.parse_raw(seed_config_str)
     return seed_config