diff --git a/mylar/__init__.py b/mylar/__init__.py
index 39c09265..325bd6e5 100755
--- a/mylar/__init__.py
+++ b/mylar/__init__.py
@@ -1044,7 +1044,10 @@ def config_write():
     new_config.encoding = 'UTF8'
     new_config['General'] = {}
     new_config['General']['config_version'] = CONFIG_VERSION
-    new_config['General']['comicvine_api'] = COMICVINE_API.strip()
+    if COMICVINE_API is None or COMICVINE_API == '':
+        new_config['General']['comicvine_api'] = COMICVINE_API
+    else:
+        new_config['General']['comicvine_api'] = COMICVINE_API.strip()
     #write the current CV API time / count here so it's persistent through reboots/restarts.
     #get the current values.
     helpers.cvapi_check()
diff --git a/mylar/webserve.py b/mylar/webserve.py
index a2389ffd..dca506ae 100755
--- a/mylar/webserve.py
+++ b/mylar/webserve.py
@@ -3007,7 +3007,7 @@ class WebInterface(object):
         pushbullet_enabled=0, pushbullet_apikey=None, pushbullet_deviceid=None, pushbullet_onsnatch=0,
         preferred_quality=0, move_files=0, rename_files=0, add_to_csv=1, cvinfo=0, lowercase_filenames=0, folder_format=None, file_format=None, enable_extra_scripts=0, extra_scripts=None, enable_pre_scripts=0, pre_scripts=None, post_processing=0, syno_fix=0, search_delay=None, chmod_dir=0777, chmod_file=0660, cvapifix=0,
         tsab=None, destination_dir=None, create_folders=1, replace_spaces=0, replace_char=None, use_minsize=0, minsize=None, use_maxsize=0, maxsize=None, autowant_all=0, autowant_upcoming=0, comic_cover_local=0, zero_level=0, zero_level_n=None, interface=None, **kwargs):
-        mylar.COMICVINE_API = comicvine_api.strip()
+        mylar.COMICVINE_API = comicvine_api
         mylar.HTTP_HOST = http_host
         mylar.HTTP_PORT = http_port
         mylar.HTTP_USERNAME = http_username