diff --git a/airflow/contrib/operators/awsbatch_operator.py b/airflow/contrib/operators/awsbatch_operator.py
index 22508d17c56a2..a90f57ddd47d1 100644
--- a/airflow/contrib/operators/awsbatch_operator.py
+++ b/airflow/contrib/operators/awsbatch_operator.py
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ def __init__(self, job_name, job_definition, job_queue, overrides, array_propert
         self.job_definition = job_definition
         self.job_queue = job_queue
         self.overrides = overrides
-        self.array_properties = array_properties
+        self.array_properties = array_properties or {}
         self.max_retries = max_retries
 
         self.jobId = None  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
diff --git a/tests/contrib/operators/test_awsbatch_operator.py b/tests/contrib/operators/test_awsbatch_operator.py
index 8814857c14736..64bcbf2f68add 100644
--- a/tests/contrib/operators/test_awsbatch_operator.py
+++ b/tests/contrib/operators/test_awsbatch_operator.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ def test_init(self):
         self.assertEqual(self.batch.job_definition, 'hello-world')
         self.assertEqual(self.batch.max_retries, 5)
         self.assertEqual(self.batch.overrides, {})
-        self.assertEqual(self.batch.array_properties, None)
+        self.assertEqual(self.batch.array_properties, {})
         self.assertEqual(self.batch.region_name, 'eu-west-1')
         self.assertEqual(self.batch.aws_conn_id, None)
         self.assertEqual(self.batch.hook, self.aws_hook_mock.return_value)
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ def test_execute_without_failures(self, check_mock, wait_mock):
             jobName='51455483-c62c-48ac-9b88-53a6a725baa3',
             containerOverrides={},
             jobDefinition='hello-world',
-            arrayProperties=None
+            arrayProperties={}
         )
 
         wait_mock.assert_called_once_with()
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ def test_execute_with_failures(self):
             jobName='51455483-c62c-48ac-9b88-53a6a725baa3',
             containerOverrides={},
             jobDefinition='hello-world',
-            arrayProperties=None
+            arrayProperties={}
         )
 
     def test_wait_end_tasks(self):