diff --git a/singer_sdk/authenticators.py b/singer_sdk/authenticators.py
index 67c3e99d4..468b607e8 100644
--- a/singer_sdk/authenticators.py
+++ b/singer_sdk/authenticators.py
@@ -104,8 +104,8 @@ def authenticate_request(self, request: requests.Request) -> None:
         .. _request object:
             https://requests.readthedocs.io/en/latest/api/#requests.Request
         """
-        request.headers.update(self.auth_headers or {})
-        request.params.update(self.auth_params or {})
+        request.headers.update(self.auth_headers)
+        request.params.update(self.auth_params)
 
 
 class SimpleAuthenticator(APIAuthenticatorBase):