diff --git a/modules/core/03-connection/keeper/keeper.go b/modules/core/03-connection/keeper/keeper.go
index 923554ca0ffb..7469a7b26c2f 100644
--- a/modules/core/03-connection/keeper/keeper.go
+++ b/modules/core/03-connection/keeper/keeper.go
@@ -226,8 +226,8 @@ func (k Keeper) addConnectionToClient(ctx sdk.Context, clientID, connectionID st
 func (k Keeper) GetParams(ctx sdk.Context) types.Params {
 	store := ctx.KVStore(k.storeKey)
 	bz := store.Get([]byte(types.ParamsKey))
-	if bz == nil { // only panic on unset params and not on empty params
-		panic("controller params are not set in store")
+	if len(bz) == 0 {
+		return types.Params{}
 	}
 
 	var params types.Params