diff --git a/ipatests/azure/azure-run-tests.sh b/ipatests/azure/azure-run-tests.sh
index 87077331b..f1982abad 100755
--- a/ipatests/azure/azure-run-tests.sh
+++ b/ipatests/azure/azure-run-tests.sh
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ server_password=Secret123
 
 # Normalize spacing and expand the list afterwards. Remove {} for the single list element case
 tests_to_run=$(eval "echo {$(echo $TESTS_TO_RUN | sed -e 's/[ \t]+*/,/g')}" | tr -d '{}')
+tests_to_ignore=
+[[ -n "$TESTS_TO_IGNORE" ]] && \
 tests_to_ignore=$(eval "echo --ignore\ {$(echo $TESTS_TO_IGNORE | sed -e 's/[ \t]+*/,/g')}" | tr -d '{}')
 tests_to_dedicate=
 [[ -n "$TESTS_TO_DEDICATE" ]] && \
@@ -47,7 +49,8 @@ if [ "$install_result" -eq 0 ] ; then
 	ipa-test-task --help
 	ipa-run-tests --help
 
-	ipa-run-tests ${tests_to_ignore} \
+	ipa-run-tests \
+            ${tests_to_ignore} \
             ${tests_to_dedicate} \
             --slices=${SYSTEM_TOTALJOBSINPHASE:-1} \
             --slice-num=${SYSTEM_JOBPOSITIONINPHASE:-1} \