diff --git a/config.py b/config.py
index bb5de205..256e211a 100644
--- a/config.py
+++ b/config.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class Config(object):
     SQLALCHEMY_ECHO = False     # set to true to see SQL in console
     WTF_CSRF_TIME_LIMIT = None  # a value of None ensures csrf token is valid for the lifetime of the session
 
-    BOUNCE_HOST = os.environ.get('BOUNCE_HOST')
-    BOUNCE_USERNAME = os.environ.get('BOUNCE_USERNAME')
-    BOUNCE_PASSWORD = os.environ.get('BOUNCE_PASSWORD')
+    BOUNCE_HOST = os.environ.get('BOUNCE_HOST') or ''
+    BOUNCE_USERNAME = os.environ.get('BOUNCE_USERNAME') or ''
+    BOUNCE_PASSWORD = os.environ.get('BOUNCE_PASSWORD') or ''
 
diff --git a/env.sample b/env.sample
index 254f99a7..49badda2 100644
--- a/env.sample
+++ b/env.sample
@@ -10,3 +10,7 @@ CACHE_TYPE='FileSystemCache'
 CACHE_DIR='/dev/shm/pyfedi'
 CELERY_BROKER_URL='redis://localhost:6379/1'
 CACHE_REDIS_URL='redis://localhost:6379/1'
+
+BOUNCE_HOST=''
+BOUNCE_USERNAME=''
+BOUNCE_PASSWORD=''