diff --git a/templates/besu.service.j2 b/templates/besu.service.j2
index 9dd5d23..af91627 100644
--- a/templates/besu.service.j2
+++ b/templates/besu.service.j2
@@ -9,7 +9,9 @@ Environment=HOME=/home/{{ besu_user }}
 {% if besu_log4j_config_file %}
 Environment=LOG4J_CONFIGURATION_FILE={{ besu_log4j_config_file }}
 {% endif %}
+{% if besu_env_opts|bool %}
 Environment='BESU_OPTS={{ besu_env_opts|besu_opts_format }}'
+{% endif %}
 Type=simple
 {% if besu_cmdline_args %}
 ExecStart=/bin/sh -c "{{ besu_current_dir }}/bin/besu --config-file={{ besu_config_dir }}/config.toml {{ besu_cmdline_args|quote }} >> {{besu_log_dir}}/besu.log 2>&1"