diff --git a/src/ros2_medkit_gateway/config/gateway_params.yaml b/src/ros2_medkit_gateway/config/gateway_params.yaml
index 3af7d64d..17bba838 100644
--- a/src/ros2_medkit_gateway/config/gateway_params.yaml
+++ b/src/ros2_medkit_gateway/config/gateway_params.yaml
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ ros2_medkit_gateway:
       # Allowed bulk data categories (besides "rosbags" which is always
       # available via FaultManager)
       # Example: ["calibration", "firmware", "comlogs", "snapshots"]
-      categories: []
+      categories: [""]
 
     # Plugin Framework
     # Extend gateway with custom plugins loaded from shared libraries (.so).
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ ros2_medkit_gateway:
     # Plugin lifecycle: load -> configure -> set_context -> register_routes
     # Plugins that throw during any lifecycle call are disabled (not crashed).
     # Default: [] (no plugins)
-    plugins: []
+    plugins: [""]
 
     # Software Updates
     # Enables /updates endpoints for SOVD-compliant software update management.
diff --git a/src/ros2_medkit_gateway/src/gateway_node.cpp b/src/ros2_medkit_gateway/src/gateway_node.cpp
index 234e42b7..bd0447d6 100644
--- a/src/ros2_medkit_gateway/src/gateway_node.cpp
+++ b/src/ros2_medkit_gateway/src/gateway_node.cpp
@@ -426,6 +426,12 @@ GatewayNode::GatewayNode() : Node("ros2_medkit_gateway") {
   auto bd_storage_dir = get_parameter("bulk_data.storage_dir").as_string();
   auto bd_max_upload = static_cast<size_t>(get_parameter("bulk_data.max_upload_size").as_int());
   auto bd_categories = get_parameter("bulk_data.categories").as_string_array();
+  bd_categories.erase(std::remove_if(bd_categories.begin(), bd_categories.end(),
+                                     [](const auto & item) {
+                                       return item.empty();
+                                     }),
+                      bd_categories.end());
+
   bulk_data_store_ = std::make_unique<BulkDataStore>(bd_storage_dir, bd_max_upload, bd_categories);
   RCLCPP_INFO(get_logger(), "Bulk data store: dir=%s, max_upload=%zuB, categories=%zu", bd_storage_dir.c_str(),
               bd_max_upload, bd_categories.size());
@@ -438,6 +444,11 @@ GatewayNode::GatewayNode() : Node("ros2_medkit_gateway") {
   // Initialize plugin manager
   plugin_mgr_ = std::make_unique<PluginManager>();
   auto plugin_names = get_parameter("plugins").as_string_array();
+  plugin_names.erase(std::remove_if(plugin_names.begin(), plugin_names.end(),
+                                    [](const auto & item) {
+                                      return item.empty();
+                                    }),
+                     plugin_names.end());
   if (!plugin_names.empty()) {
     std::vector<PluginConfig> configs;
     // Plugin name validation: alphanumeric, underscore, hyphen only (max 256 chars)