diff --git a/src/wuttasync/importing/handlers.py b/src/wuttasync/importing/handlers.py
index ec367ab..03a6179 100644
--- a/src/wuttasync/importing/handlers.py
+++ b/src/wuttasync/importing/handlers.py
@@ -486,6 +486,11 @@ class ImportHandler(GenericHandler):
 
         kwargs = self.get_importer_kwargs(key, **kwargs)
         kwargs['handler'] = self
+
+        # nb. default logic should (normally) determine keys
+        if 'keys' in kwargs and not kwargs['keys']:
+            del kwargs['keys']
+
         factory = self.importers[key]
         return factory(self.config, **kwargs)
 
diff --git a/tests/importing/test_handlers.py b/tests/importing/test_handlers.py
index dac37d6..3c2fe49 100644
--- a/tests/importing/test_handlers.py
+++ b/tests/importing/test_handlers.py
@@ -169,6 +169,18 @@ class TestImportHandler(DataTestCase):
         importer = handler.get_importer('Setting', model_class=model.Setting)
         self.assertIsInstance(importer, Importer)
 
+        # specifying empty keys
+        handler.importers['Setting'] = Importer
+        importer = handler.get_importer('Setting', model_class=model.Setting,
+                                        keys=None)
+        self.assertIsInstance(importer, Importer)
+        importer = handler.get_importer('Setting', model_class=model.Setting,
+                                        keys='')
+        self.assertIsInstance(importer, Importer)
+        importer = handler.get_importer('Setting', model_class=model.Setting,
+                                        keys=[])
+        self.assertIsInstance(importer, Importer)
+
         # key not found
         self.assertRaises(KeyError, handler.get_importer, 'BunchOfNonsense', model_class=model.Setting)