diff --git a/tests/test_env_overrides.py b/tests/test_env_overrides.py
index 16f286f67..7afc6833a 100644
--- a/tests/test_env_overrides.py
+++ b/tests/test_env_overrides.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import importlib
+import os
 
 import pytest
 
@@ -100,6 +101,21 @@ def test_empty_env_value_is_passthrough(monkeypatch):
     assert dc.DEFAULT_CONFIG["max_debate_rounds"] == 1
 
 
+def test_empty_path_value_keeps_the_default_path(monkeypatch):
+    """.env.example lists the path variables blank; uncommenting one made the
+    path empty, and the graph failed creating its directories."""
+    dc = _reload_with_env(
+        monkeypatch,
+        TRADINGAGENTS_RESULTS_DIR="",
+        TRADINGAGENTS_CACHE_DIR="",
+        TRADINGAGENTS_MEMORY_LOG_PATH="",
+    )
+    home = dc._TRADINGAGENTS_HOME
+    assert dc.DEFAULT_CONFIG["results_dir"] == os.path.join(home, "logs")
+    assert dc.DEFAULT_CONFIG["data_cache_dir"] == os.path.join(home, "cache")
+    assert dc.DEFAULT_CONFIG["memory_log_path"] == os.path.join(home, "memory", "trading_memory.md")
+
+
 def test_invalid_int_raises(monkeypatch):
     """Garbage int values should surface a ValueError at import, not silently misconfigure."""
     monkeypatch.setenv("TRADINGAGENTS_MAX_DEBATE_ROUNDS", "not-a-number")
diff --git a/tradingagents/default_config.py b/tradingagents/default_config.py
index 8d6384b3b..03089d34d 100644
--- a/tradingagents/default_config.py
+++ b/tradingagents/default_config.py
@@ -71,9 +71,9 @@ def _apply_env_overrides(config: dict) -> dict:
 
 DEFAULT_CONFIG = _apply_env_overrides({
     "project_dir": os.path.abspath(os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), ".")),
-    "results_dir": os.getenv("TRADINGAGENTS_RESULTS_DIR", os.path.join(_TRADINGAGENTS_HOME, "logs")),
-    "data_cache_dir": os.getenv("TRADINGAGENTS_CACHE_DIR", os.path.join(_TRADINGAGENTS_HOME, "cache")),
-    "memory_log_path": os.getenv("TRADINGAGENTS_MEMORY_LOG_PATH", os.path.join(_TRADINGAGENTS_HOME, "memory", "trading_memory.md")),
+    "results_dir": os.getenv("TRADINGAGENTS_RESULTS_DIR") or os.path.join(_TRADINGAGENTS_HOME, "logs"),
+    "data_cache_dir": os.getenv("TRADINGAGENTS_CACHE_DIR") or os.path.join(_TRADINGAGENTS_HOME, "cache"),
+    "memory_log_path": os.getenv("TRADINGAGENTS_MEMORY_LOG_PATH") or os.path.join(_TRADINGAGENTS_HOME, "memory", "trading_memory.md"),
     # Optional cap on the number of resolved memory log entries. When set,
     # the oldest resolved entries are pruned once this limit is exceeded.
     # Pending entries are never pruned. None disables rotation entirely.