diff --git a/scripts/gen_coverage.py b/scripts/gen_coverage.py
index 41b30d00d9..93328f1b85 100644
--- a/scripts/gen_coverage.py
+++ b/scripts/gen_coverage.py
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ def run(
         "-DDPCTL_BUILD_CAPI_TESTS=ON",
         "-DDPCTL_COVERAGE_REPORT_OUTPUT_DIR=" + setup_dir,
     ]
-    env = None
+    env = dict()
     if bin_llvm:
         env = {
             "PATH": ":".join((os.environ.get("PATH", ""), bin_llvm)),
diff --git a/scripts/gen_docs.py b/scripts/gen_docs.py
index 377b37f6d8..9e2285a477 100644
--- a/scripts/gen_docs.py
+++ b/scripts/gen_docs.py
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ def run(
         cmake_args.append("-DDPCTL_ENABLE_DOXYREST=ON")
         cmake_args.append("-DDoxyrest_DIR=" + doxyrest_dir)
 
-    env = None
+    env = dict()
     if bin_llvm:
         env = {
             "PATH": ":".join((os.environ.get("PATH", ""), bin_llvm)),