diff --git a/conf/test_params.config b/conf/test_params.config
index ddca8179..952d44f3 100644
--- a/conf/test_params.config
+++ b/conf/test_params.config
@@ -146,14 +146,14 @@ params {
         download_bakta_db         = false
         bakta_db_path             = ""
         bakta_min_contig_length   = 200 // due to compliant mode default, otherwise default is 1
-        bakta_genus               = ""
-        bakta_species             = ""
-        bakta_strain              = ""
+        bakta_genus               = "Genus"
+        bakta_species             = "species"
+        bakta_strain              = "unnamed"
         bakta_plasmid             = "unnamed"
         bakta_complete            = ""
         bakta_compliant           = true
         bakta_translation_table   = 11
-        bakta_gram                = ""
+        bakta_gram                = "?"
         bakta_locus               = "contig"
         bakta_locus_tag           = "LOCUSTAG123" // set a meaningful locus tag here for compliant mode