diff --git a/solar/solar/core/resource/resource.py b/solar/solar/core/resource/resource.py
index 35f9acac..65dfa2e4 100644
--- a/solar/solar/core/resource/resource.py
+++ b/solar/solar/core/resource/resource.py
@@ -39,7 +39,8 @@ class Resource(object):
 
     # Create
     @dispatch(str, str)
-    def __init__(self, name, base_path, args={}, tags=None, virtual_resource=None):
+    def __init__(self, name, base_path, args=None, tags=None, virtual_resource=None):
+        args = args or {}
         self.name = name
         if base_path:
             metadata = read_meta(base_path)
@@ -86,7 +87,8 @@ class Resource(object):
             k: v for k, v in ret.items() if os.path.isfile(v)
         }
 
-    def create_inputs(self, args={}):
+    def create_inputs(self, args=None):
+        args = args or {}
         for name, v in self.db_obj.meta_inputs.items():
             value = args.get(name, v.get('value'))
 
diff --git a/solar/solar/core/resource/virtual_resource.py b/solar/solar/core/resource/virtual_resource.py
index e2522d9f..d9e32bc3 100644
--- a/solar/solar/core/resource/virtual_resource.py
+++ b/solar/solar/core/resource/virtual_resource.py
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ from solar.core import resource
 from solar.core import signals
 
 
-def create(name, base_path, args={}, virtual_resource=None):
+def create(name, base_path, args=None, virtual_resource=None):
+    args = args or {}
     if isinstance(base_path, provider.BaseProvider):
         base_path = base_path.directory
 
@@ -47,7 +48,8 @@ def create(name, base_path, args={}, virtual_resource=None):
     return rs
 
 
-def create_resource(name, base_path, args={}, virtual_resource=None):
+def create_resource(name, base_path, args=None, virtual_resource=None):
+    args = args or {}
     if isinstance(base_path, provider.BaseProvider):
         base_path = base_path.directory