diff --git a/mesa/batchrunner.py b/mesa/batchrunner.py
index b86f44845f4..4c3a49153b7 100644
--- a/mesa/batchrunner.py
+++ b/mesa/batchrunner.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class BatchRunner:
     entire DataCollector object.
 
     """
-    def __init__(self, model_cls, variable_parameters=None,
+    def __init__(self, model_cls, variable_parameters={},
             fixed_parameters=None, iterations=1, max_steps=1000,
             model_reporters=None, agent_reporters=None, display_progress=True):
         """ Create a new BatchRunner for a given model with the given
@@ -110,31 +110,50 @@ def _process_parameters(self, params):
 
     def run_all(self):
         """ Run the model at all parameter combinations and store results. """
-        param_names, param_ranges = zip(*self.variable_parameters.items())
         run_count = count()
         total_iterations = self.iterations
-        for param_range in param_ranges:
-            total_iterations *= len(param_range)
-        with tqdm(total_iterations, disable=not self.display_progress) as pbar:
-            for param_values in product(*param_ranges):
-                kwargs = dict(zip(param_names, param_values))
-                kwargs.update(self.fixed_parameters)
 
+        if len(self.variable_parameters.keys()) > 0:
+            param_names, param_ranges = zip(*self.variable_parameters.items())
+            for param_range in param_ranges:
+                total_iterations *= len(param_range)
+
+            with tqdm(total_iterations, disable=not self.display_progress) as pbar:
+                for param_values in product(*param_ranges):
+                    kwargs = dict(zip(param_names, param_values))
+                    kwargs.update(self.fixed_parameters)
+
+                    for _ in range(self.iterations):
+                        self.run_iteration(kwargs, param_values, run_count)
+                        pbar.update()
+        else:
+            kwargs = self.fixed_parameters
+            param_values = None
+
+            with tqdm(total_iterations, disable=not self.display_progress) as pbar:
                 for _ in range(self.iterations):
-                    kwargscopy = copy.deepcopy(kwargs)
-                    model = self.model_cls(**kwargscopy)
-                    self.run_model(model)
-                    # Collect and store results:
-                    model_key = param_values + (next(run_count),)
-                    if self.model_reporters:
-                        self.model_vars[model_key] = self.collect_model_vars(model)
-                    if self.agent_reporters:
-                        agent_vars = self.collect_agent_vars(model)
-                        for agent_id, reports in agent_vars.items():
-                            agent_key = model_key + (agent_id,)
-                            self.agent_vars[agent_key] = reports
+                    self.run_iteration(kwargs, param_values, run_count)
                     pbar.update()
 
+    def run_iteration(self, kwargs, param_values, run_count):
+        kwargscopy = copy.deepcopy(kwargs)
+        model = self.model_cls(**kwargscopy)
+        self.run_model(model)
+
+        # Collect and store results:
+        if param_values is not None:
+            model_key = param_values + (next(run_count),)
+        else:
+            model_key = (next(run_count),)
+
+        if self.model_reporters:
+            self.model_vars[model_key] = self.collect_model_vars(model)
+        if self.agent_reporters:
+            agent_vars = self.collect_agent_vars(model)
+            for agent_id, reports in agent_vars.items():
+                agent_key = model_key + (agent_id,)
+                self.agent_vars[agent_key] = reports
+
     def run_model(self, model):
         """ Run a model object to completion, or until reaching max steps.