diff --git a/nextflow.config b/nextflow.config
index 790a77af..86f6a067 100644
--- a/nextflow.config
+++ b/nextflow.config
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ params {
   // or "All" to process all samples in the metadata file
   run_ids = "All"
   // to run all samples in a project use that project's submitter name
-  project = ""
+  project = null
   // if running the merge workflow, include all runs in a project by default
   merge_run_ids = "All"