diff --git a/api/chalicelib/core/assist.py b/api/chalicelib/core/assist.py
index 44adfe2d1..e4b1d4a7e 100644
--- a/api/chalicelib/core/assist.py
+++ b/api/chalicelib/core/assist.py
@@ -66,8 +66,10 @@ def get_live_sessions(project_id, filters=None):
 
 def get_live_sessions_ws(project_id, user_id=None):
     project_key = projects.get_project_key(project_id)
-    connected_peers = requests.get(config("peers") % config("S3_KEY") \
-                                   + f"/{project_key}" + (f"?userId={user_id}" if user_id else ""))
+    params = {}
+    if user_id and len(user_id) > 0:
+        params["userId"] = user_id
+    connected_peers = requests.get(config("peers") % config("S3_KEY") + f"/{project_key}", params)
     if connected_peers.status_code != 200:
         print("!! issue with the peer-server")
         print(connected_peers.text)