diff --git a/lib/rucio/db/sqla/session.py b/lib/rucio/db/sqla/session.py
index f8995b7142f..3c5fb0a7f37 100644
--- a/lib/rucio/db/sqla/session.py
+++ b/lib/rucio/db/sqla/session.py
@@ -150,10 +150,13 @@ def get_engine(echo=True):
                          ('pool_reset_on_return', str), ('use_threadlocal', int)]
         params = {}
         for param, param_type in config_params:
-            params[param] = param_type(config_get(DATABASE_SECTION,
-                                                  param,
-                                                  raise_exception=False,
-                                                  default=None))
+            param_value = param_type(config_get(DATABASE_SECTION,
+                                                param,
+                                                raise_exception=False,
+                                                default=None))
+            if param_value:
+                params[param] = param_value
+
         _ENGINE = create_engine(sql_connection, **params)
         if 'mysql' in sql_connection:
             event.listen(_ENGINE, 'checkout', mysql_ping_listener)