diff --git a/core/configs.go b/core/configs.go
index cba66676..0ae0458d 100644
--- a/core/configs.go
+++ b/core/configs.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ type ErrorResponse struct {
 func LoadConfigFile(directory string) (*DbConfig, error) {
 	var configs *DbConfig
 
-	dbConn := utils.Getenv("DB_CONN", "")
+	dbConn := utils.Getenv("DB_CONN", "").(string)
 
 	if dbConn != "" {
 		log.Infof("DB_CONN=%s environment variable was found, waiting for database...", dbConn)
diff --git a/utils/utils.go b/utils/utils.go
index ab3076a9..7a8609af 100644
--- a/utils/utils.go
+++ b/utils/utils.go
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ func Getenv(key string, defaultValue interface{}) interface{} {
 				var services []*types.Service
 				if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(val), services); err != nil {
 					Log.Error("Incorrect formatting with SERVICE environment variable")
-					return nil
+					return []*types.Service{}
 				}
 				return services
 			default: