diff --git a/ocw/tables.py b/ocw/tables.py
index 554a52e7..263572ee 100644
--- a/ocw/tables.py
+++ b/ocw/tables.py
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ class Meta:  # pylint: disable=too-few-public-methods
 
 # Create a BaseFilterSet to support initial value
 class BaseFilterSet(django_filters.FilterSet):
-    def __init__(self, data=None, *args, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, data, *args, **kwargs):
         if data is not None:
             data = data.copy()
             for name, filter_ in self.base_filters.items():