diff --git a/cmd/utils/flags.go b/cmd/utils/flags.go
index afcf6afbd..8ed86d2fa 100644
--- a/cmd/utils/flags.go
+++ b/cmd/utils/flags.go
@@ -905,12 +905,15 @@ func setNAT(ctx *cli.Context, cfg *p2p.Config) {
 
 // splitAndTrim splits input separated by a comma
 // and trims excessive white space from the substrings.
-func splitAndTrim(input string) []string {
-	result := strings.Split(input, ",")
-	for i, r := range result {
-		result[i] = strings.TrimSpace(r)
+func splitAndTrim(input string) (ret []string) {
+	l := strings.Split(input, ",")
+	for _, r := range l {
+		r = strings.TrimSpace(r)
+		if len(r) > 0 {
+			ret = append(ret, r)
+		}
 	}
-	return result
+	return ret
 }
 
 // setHTTP creates the HTTP RPC listener interface string from the set
diff --git a/node/config.go b/node/config.go
index 08bd2aba0..61566b7be 100644
--- a/node/config.go
+++ b/node/config.go
@@ -102,11 +102,11 @@ type Config struct {
 	// a simple file name, it is placed inside the data directory (or on the root
 	// pipe path on Windows), whereas if it's a resolvable path name (absolute or
 	// relative), then that specific path is enforced. An empty path disables IPC.
-	IPCPath string `toml:",omitempty"`
+	IPCPath string
 
 	// HTTPHost is the host interface on which to start the HTTP RPC server. If this
 	// field is empty, no HTTP API endpoint will be started.
-	HTTPHost string `toml:",omitempty"`
+	HTTPHost string
 
 	// HTTPPort is the TCP port number on which to start the HTTP RPC server. The
 	// default zero value is/ valid and will pick a port number randomly (useful
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	// HTTPModules is a list of API modules to expose via the HTTP RPC interface.
 	// If the module list is empty, all RPC API endpoints designated public will be
 	// exposed.
-	HTTPModules []string `toml:",omitempty"`
+	HTTPModules []string
 
 	// HTTPTimeouts allows for customization of the timeout values used by the HTTP RPC
 	// interface.
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ type Config struct {
 
 	// WSHost is the host interface on which to start the websocket RPC server. If
 	// this field is empty, no websocket API endpoint will be started.
-	WSHost string `toml:",omitempty"`
+	WSHost string
 
 	// WSPort is the TCP port number on which to start the websocket RPC server. The
 	// default zero value is/ valid and will pick a port number randomly (useful for
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	// WSModules is a list of API modules to expose via the websocket RPC interface.
 	// If the module list is empty, all RPC API endpoints designated public will be
 	// exposed.
-	WSModules []string `toml:",omitempty"`
+	WSModules []string
 
 	// WSExposeAll exposes all API modules via the WebSocket RPC interface rather
 	// than just the public ones.
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ type Config struct {
 
 	// GraphQLHost is the host interface on which to start the GraphQL server. If this
 	// field is empty, no GraphQL API endpoint will be started.
-	GraphQLHost string `toml:",omitempty"`
+	GraphQLHost string
 
 	// GraphQLPort is the TCP port number on which to start the GraphQL server. The
 	// default zero value is/ valid and will pick a port number randomly (useful