diff --git a/selfdrive/manager/manager.py b/selfdrive/manager/manager.py
index 3208b1b813..802a0bb3df 100755
--- a/selfdrive/manager/manager.py
+++ b/selfdrive/manager/manager.py
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ def manager_thread() -> None:
   params = Params()
 
   ignore: List[str] = []
-  if params.get("DongleId", encoding='utf8') == UNREGISTERED_DONGLE_ID:
+  if params.get("DongleId", encoding='utf8') in (None, UNREGISTERED_DONGLE_ID):
     ignore += ["manage_athenad", "uploader"]
   if os.getenv("NOBOARD") is not None:
     ignore.append("pandad")