diff --git a/snap/local/start-mongod.sh b/snap/local/start-mongod.sh
index 278dbb3..4a4f2ac 100755
--- a/snap/local/start-mongod.sh
+++ b/snap/local/start-mongod.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,11 @@ ulimit -Sl unlimited
 ulimit -SHn 64000
 ulimit -SHu 64000
 
-MONGOD_ARGS="$(snapctl get mongod-args)"
+SNAP_ARGS="$(snapctl get mongod-args)"
+
+if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
+    MONGOD_ARGS=$SNAP_ARGS
+fi
 # For security measures, daemons should not be run as sudo. Execute mongod as the non-sudo user: snap-daemon.
 exec $SNAP/usr/bin/setpriv --clear-groups --reuid snap_daemon \
   --regid snap_daemon -- $SNAP/usr/bin/mongod --config ${SNAP_DATA}/etc/mongod/mongod.conf ${MONGOD_ARGS} "$@"
diff --git a/snap/local/start-mongos.sh b/snap/local/start-mongos.sh
index e3eae00..075abfc 100755
--- a/snap/local/start-mongos.sh
+++ b/snap/local/start-mongos.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,12 @@ ulimit -Sl unlimited
 ulimit -SHn 64000
 ulimit -SHu 64000
 
-MONGOS_ARGS="$(snapctl get mongos-args)"
+SNAP_ARGS="$(snapctl get mongos-args)"
+
+if [ $? -eq 0 ]; then
+    MONGOS_ARGS=$SNAP_ARGS
+fi
+
 # For security measures, daemons should not be run as sudo. Execute mongos as the non-sudo user: snap-daemon.
 exec $SNAP/usr/bin/setpriv --clear-groups --reuid snap_daemon \
   --regid snap_daemon -- $SNAP/usr/bin/mongos ${MONGOS_ARGS} "$@"