diff --git a/src/paperless/serialisers.py b/src/paperless/serialisers.py
index 5c9f5863e..50407564b 100644
--- a/src/paperless/serialisers.py
+++ b/src/paperless/serialisers.py
@@ -124,6 +124,11 @@ class ProfileSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
 class ApplicationConfigurationSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
     user_args = serializers.JSONField(binary=True, allow_null=True)
 
+    def run_validation(self, data):
+        if "user_args" in data and data["user_args"] == "":
+            data["user_args"] = None
+        return super().run_validation(data)
+
     class Meta:
         model = ApplicationConfiguration
         fields = "__all__"