diff --git a/frappy_psi/sea.py b/frappy_psi/sea.py
index 45a0f47..6922fad 100644
--- a/frappy_psi/sea.py
+++ b/frappy_psi/sea.py
@@ -182,10 +182,10 @@ class SeaClient(ProxyClient, Module):
             assert self.syncio.readline() == b'OK'
             self.syncio.writeline(b'seauser seaser')
             assert self.syncio.readline() == b'Login OK'
-
-            result = self.raw_request('frappy_config %s %s' % (self.service, self.config))
-            if result.startswith('ERROR:'):
-                raise CommunicationFailedError(f'reply from frappy_config: {result}')
+            if self.service and self.config:
+                result = self.raw_request('frappy_config %s %s' % (self.service, self.config))
+                if result.startswith('ERROR:'):
+                    raise CommunicationFailedError(f'reply from frappy_config: {result}')
             # frappy_async_client switches to the json protocol (better for updates)
             self.asynio.writeline(b'frappy_async_client')
             self.asynio.writeline(('get_all_param ' + ' '.join(self.objects)).encode())