diff --git a/tests/app/template_cli_test.py b/tests/app/template_cli_test.py
index 165c1b5c7..fccb04fee 100644
--- a/tests/app/template_cli_test.py
+++ b/tests/app/template_cli_test.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 def voila_args_extra():
     path_test_template = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(BASE_DIR, '../test_template/share/jupyter/voila/templates/test_template/'))
     path_default = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(BASE_DIR, '../../share/jupyter/voila/templates/default'))
-    return ['--template=None', '--VoilaTest.template_paths=[%r, %r]' % (path_test_template, path_default), '--VoilaExecutor.timeout=240']
+    return ['--template=\'\'', '--VoilaTest.template_paths=[%r, %r]' % (path_test_template, path_default), '--VoilaExecutor.timeout=240']
 
 
 async def test_template_test(http_server_client, base_url):