diff --git a/runtimepy/commands/common.py b/runtimepy/commands/common.py
index 06410e99..2344b94d 100644
--- a/runtimepy/commands/common.py
+++ b/runtimepy/commands/common.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 from argparse import ArgumentParser as _ArgumentParser
 
 
-def arbiter_args(parser: _ArgumentParser) -> None:
+def arbiter_args(parser: _ArgumentParser, nargs: str = "+") -> None:
     """Add common connection-arbiter parameters.."""
 
     parser.add_argument(
@@ -14,4 +14,6 @@ def arbiter_args(parser: _ArgumentParser) -> None:
         action="store_true",
         help="exit after completing initialization",
     )
-    parser.add_argument("configs", nargs="+", help="the configuration to load")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "configs", nargs=nargs, help="the configuration to load"
+    )
diff --git a/tests/commands/test_arbiter.py b/tests/commands/test_arbiter.py
index c7820e9d..e0b7af9e 100644
--- a/tests/commands/test_arbiter.py
+++ b/tests/commands/test_arbiter.py
@@ -13,19 +13,14 @@
 def test_arbiter_command_basic():
     """Test basic usages of the 'arbiter' command."""
 
-    for entry in ["basic.yaml"]:
-        assert (
-            runtimepy_main(
-                [
-                    PKG_NAME,
-                    "arbiter",
-                    "--init_only",
-                    str(resource("connection_arbiter", entry)),
-                ]
-            )
-            == 0
+    assert (
+        runtimepy_main(
+            [PKG_NAME, "arbiter", "--init_only", str(resource("empty.yaml"))]
         )
+        == 0
+    )
 
+    for entry in ["basic.yaml"]:
         assert (
             runtimepy_main(
                 [
diff --git a/tests/data/valid/empty.yaml b/tests/data/valid/empty.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ed97d539
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/data/valid/empty.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+---