diff --git a/neutron/agent/l3/ha_router.py b/neutron/agent/l3/ha_router.py
index b1839913e09..c1294bb6aef 100644
--- a/neutron/agent/l3/ha_router.py
+++ b/neutron/agent/l3/ha_router.py
@@ -362,6 +362,7 @@ class HaRouter(router.RouterInfo):
         ha_cidr = self._get_primary_vip()
 
         def callback(pid_file):
+            root_helper_daemon = self.agent_conf.AGENT.root_helper_daemon or ''
             cmd = [
                 'neutron-keepalived-state-change',
                 '--router_id=%s' % self.router_id,
@@ -374,8 +375,7 @@ class HaRouter(router.RouterInfo):
                 '--user=%s' % os.geteuid(),
                 '--group=%s' % os.getegid(),
                 '--AGENT-root_helper=%s' % self.agent_conf.AGENT.root_helper,
-                '--AGENT-root_helper_daemon=%s' %
-                self.agent_conf.AGENT.root_helper_daemon]
+                '--AGENT-root_helper_daemon=%s' % root_helper_daemon]
             return cmd
 
         return callback