diff --git a/daemon/core/emulator/emudata.py b/daemon/core/emulator/emudata.py
index a5e9bfff..6a0ec8a6 100644
--- a/daemon/core/emulator/emudata.py
+++ b/daemon/core/emulator/emudata.py
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ class NodeOptions:
         self.canvas = None
         self.icon = None
         self.opaque = None
-        self.services = None
+        self.services = []
         self.config_services = []
         self.x = None
         self.y = None
diff --git a/daemon/core/services/coreservices.py b/daemon/core/services/coreservices.py
index f5a46c08..35cd3ed3 100644
--- a/daemon/core/services/coreservices.py
+++ b/daemon/core/services/coreservices.py
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ class CoreServices:
         :param services: names of services to add to node
         :return: nothing
         """
-        if services is None:
+        if not services:
             logging.info(
                 "using default services for node(%s) type(%s)", node.name, node_type
             )