diff --git a/backend/backend/settings.py b/backend/backend/settings.py
index 2b10c78f7..5cbac7006 100644
--- a/backend/backend/settings.py
+++ b/backend/backend/settings.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ def get_version():
 # SECURITY WARNING: don't run with debug turned on in production!
 DEBUG = True if os.getenv("DEBUG") == "True" else False
 
-ALLOWED_HOSTS = os.getenv("ALLOWED_HOSTS", []).split(",")
+ALLOWED_HOSTS = os.getenv("ALLOWED_HOSTS", "").split(",")
 
 SESSION_ENGINE = "django.contrib.sessions.backends.signed_cookies"