diff --git a/spyderplugins/p_profiler.py b/spyderplugins/p_profiler.py
index 3ce5a3c0e1d..17c798fdb93 100644
--- a/spyderplugins/p_profiler.py
+++ b/spyderplugins/p_profiler.py
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ def analyze(self, filename):
             self.dockwidget.raise_()
         pythonpath = self.main.get_spyder_pythonpath()
         runconf = runconfig.get_run_configuration(filename)
-        wdir, args = None, None
+        wdir, args = None, []
         if runconf is not None:
             if runconf.wdir_enabled:
                 wdir = runconf.wdir