diff --git a/cura/Settings/MachineManager.py b/cura/Settings/MachineManager.py
index 063f894d23..5851a6d11e 100755
--- a/cura/Settings/MachineManager.py
+++ b/cura/Settings/MachineManager.py
@@ -204,7 +204,9 @@ class MachineManager(QObject):
             extruder_configuration.hotendID = extruder.variant.getName() if extruder.variant != self._empty_variant_container else None
             self._current_printer_configuration.extruderConfigurations.append(extruder_configuration)
 
-        self._current_printer_configuration.buildplateConfiguration = self._global_container_stack.getProperty("machine_buildplate_type", "value") if self._global_container_stack.variant != self._empty_variant_container else None
+        # an empty build plate configuration from the network printer is presented as an empty string, so use "" for an
+        # empty build plate.
+        self._current_printer_configuration.buildplateConfiguration = self._global_container_stack.getProperty("machine_buildplate_type", "value") if self._global_container_stack.variant != self._empty_variant_container else ""
         self.currentConfigurationChanged.emit()
 
     @pyqtSlot(QObject, result = bool)