diff --git a/dokku b/dokku
index dc804401d..c2848dc1f 100755
--- a/dokku
+++ b/dokku
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ case "$1" in
     fi
 
     # start the app
-    DOCKER_ARGS=$(pluginhook docker-args $APP)
+    DOCKER_ARGS=$(: | pluginhook docker-args $APP)
     id=$(docker run -d -p 5000 -e PORT=5000 $DOCKER_ARGS $IMAGE /bin/bash -c "/start web")
     echo $id > "$DOKKU_ROOT/$APP/CONTAINER"
     port=$(docker port $id 5000 | sed 's/0.0.0.0://')
diff --git a/plugins/00_dokku-standard/commands b/plugins/00_dokku-standard/commands
index 38c334fa7..c87ba11ed 100755
--- a/plugins/00_dokku-standard/commands
+++ b/plugins/00_dokku-standard/commands
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ case "$1" in
     fi
     shift 2
 
-    DOCKER_ARGS=$(pluginhook docker-args $APP)
+    DOCKER_ARGS=$(: | pluginhook docker-args $APP)
     docker run -i -t $DOCKER_ARGS $IMAGE /exec "$@"
     ;;