diff --git a/fedn/fedn/network/api/interface.py b/fedn/fedn/network/api/interface.py
index 0821ed176..e56462493 100644
--- a/fedn/fedn/network/api/interface.py
+++ b/fedn/fedn/network/api/interface.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 import copy
 import os
 import threading
+import uuid
 from io import BytesIO
 
 from flask import jsonify, send_from_directory
@@ -863,7 +864,7 @@ def start_session(
 
         # Setup session config
         session_config = {
-            "session_id": session_id,
+            "session_id": session_id if session_id else str(uuid.uuid4()),
             "round_timeout": round_timeout,
             "buffer_size": round_buffer_size,
             "model_id": model_id,
diff --git a/fedn/fedn/network/controller/controlbase.py b/fedn/fedn/network/controller/controlbase.py
index 08766b69b..fab6a2027 100644
--- a/fedn/fedn/network/controller/controlbase.py
+++ b/fedn/fedn/network/controller/controlbase.py
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ def create_session(self, config):
             session_id = uuid.uuid4()
             config["session_id"] = str(session_id)
         else:
-            session_id = config["session_id"] if config["session_id"] else uuid.uuid4()
+            session_id = config["session_id"]
 
         self.tracer.create_session(id=session_id)
         self.tracer.set_session_config(session_id, config)