diff --git a/sdks/python/apache_beam/yaml/yaml_transform.py b/sdks/python/apache_beam/yaml/yaml_transform.py
index b467225d3a8..3837f28ed4e 100644
--- a/sdks/python/apache_beam/yaml/yaml_transform.py
+++ b/sdks/python/apache_beam/yaml/yaml_transform.py
@@ -772,8 +772,8 @@ def preprocess_windowing(spec):
         'input': spec['input'],
         'output': modified_spec['__uuid__'],
         'config': {
-            'error_handling': spec.get('config').get('error_handling', None)
-        } or {},
+            'error_handling': spec.get('config', {}).get('error_handling', {})
+        },
         '__line__': spec['__line__'],
         '__uuid__': spec['__uuid__'],
     }
@@ -809,8 +809,8 @@ def preprocess_windowing(spec):
         'transforms': [modified_spec] + windowing_transforms,
         'output': windowed_outputs,
         'config': {
-            'error_handling': spec.get('config').get('error_handling', None)
-        } or {},
+            'error_handling': spec.get('config', {}).get('error_handling', {})
+        },
         '__line__': spec['__line__'],
         '__uuid__': spec['__uuid__'],
     }