diff --git a/libtransmission/session.c b/libtransmission/session.c
index 76b16c212..9f2d70c14 100644
--- a/libtransmission/session.c
+++ b/libtransmission/session.c
@@ -349,8 +349,7 @@ tr_sessionGetSettings( tr_session * s, struct tr_benc * d )
     tr_bencDictAddInt ( d, TR_PREFS_KEY_PEER_PORT_RANDOM_LOW,     s->randomPortLow );
     tr_bencDictAddInt ( d, TR_PREFS_KEY_PEER_PORT_RANDOM_HIGH,    s->randomPortHigh );
     tr_bencDictAddInt ( d, TR_PREFS_KEY_PEER_SOCKET_TOS,          s->peerSocketTOS );
-    if(s->peer_congestion_algorithm && s->peer_congestion_algorithm[0])
-        tr_bencDictAddStr ( d, TR_PREFS_KEY_PEER_CONGESTION_ALGORITHM, s->peer_congestion_algorithm );
+    tr_bencDictAddStr ( d, TR_PREFS_KEY_PEER_CONGESTION_ALGORITHM, s->peer_congestion_algorithm );
     tr_bencDictAddBool( d, TR_PREFS_KEY_PEX_ENABLED,              s->isPexEnabled );
     tr_bencDictAddBool( d, TR_PREFS_KEY_PORT_FORWARDING,          tr_sessionIsPortForwardingEnabled( s ) );
     tr_bencDictAddInt ( d, TR_PREFS_KEY_PREALLOCATION,            s->preallocationMode );
@@ -723,6 +722,8 @@ sessionSetImpl( void * vdata )
         session->peerSocketTOS = i;
     if( tr_bencDictFindStr( settings, TR_PREFS_KEY_PEER_CONGESTION_ALGORITHM, &str ) )
         session->peer_congestion_algorithm = tr_strdup(str);
+    else
+        session->peer_congestion_algorithm = tr_strdup("");
     if( tr_bencDictFindBool( settings, TR_PREFS_KEY_BLOCKLIST_ENABLED, &boolVal ) )
         tr_blocklistSetEnabled( session, boolVal );
     if( tr_bencDictFindStr( settings, TR_PREFS_KEY_BLOCKLIST_URL, &str ) )