diff --git a/freqtrade/util/template_renderer.py b/freqtrade/util/template_renderer.py
index 6969c4c93..a875818bf 100644
--- a/freqtrade/util/template_renderer.py
+++ b/freqtrade/util/template_renderer.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ Jinja2 rendering utils, used to generate new strategy and configurations.
 """
 
 
-from typing import Dict
+from typing import Dict, Optional
 
 
 def render_template(templatefile: str, arguments: Dict) -> str:
@@ -19,11 +19,13 @@ def render_template(templatefile: str, arguments: Dict) -> str:
 
 
 def render_template_with_fallback(templatefile: str, templatefallbackfile: str,
-                                  arguments: dict = {}) -> str:
+                                  arguments: Optional[Dict] = None) -> str:
     """
     Use templatefile if possible, otherwise fall back to templatefallbackfile
     """
     from jinja2.exceptions import TemplateNotFound
+    if arguments is None:
+        arguments = {}
     try:
         return render_template(templatefile, arguments)
     except TemplateNotFound: