diff --git a/sagemaker-train/src/sagemaker/train/model_trainer.py b/sagemaker-train/src/sagemaker/train/model_trainer.py
index 48a80af03b..a9c03b6351 100644
--- a/sagemaker-train/src/sagemaker/train/model_trainer.py
+++ b/sagemaker-train/src/sagemaker/train/model_trainer.py
@@ -736,7 +736,11 @@ def _create_training_job_args(
             "training_job_name": current_training_job_name,
             "algorithm_specification": algorithm_specification,
             "hyper_parameters": string_hyper_parameters,
-            "input_data_config": final_input_data_config,
+            "input_data_config": (
+                final_input_data_config
+                if final_input_data_config
+                else None
+            ),
             "resource_config": resource_config,
             "vpc_config": vpc_config,
             "role_arn": self.role,
diff --git a/sagemaker-train/tests/unit/train/test_model_trainer.py b/sagemaker-train/tests/unit/train/test_model_trainer.py
index ce5d208bbc..18a3e1cf17 100644
--- a/sagemaker-train/tests/unit/train/test_model_trainer.py
+++ b/sagemaker-train/tests/unit/train/test_model_trainer.py
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ def test_train_with_intelligent_defaults_training_job_space(
         training_job_name=ANY,
         algorithm_specification=ANY,
         hyper_parameters={},
-        input_data_config=[],
+        input_data_config=None,
         resource_config=ResourceConfig(
             volume_size_in_gb=30,
             instance_type="ml.m5.xlarge",