diff --git a/rs/sns/cli/src/init_config_file/friendly.rs b/rs/sns/cli/src/init_config_file/friendly.rs
index 64473613dea..1fa506a3174 100644
--- a/rs/sns/cli/src/init_config_file/friendly.rs
+++ b/rs/sns/cli/src/init_config_file/friendly.rs
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ pub(crate) struct SnsConfigurationFile {
     logo: PathBuf,
     url: String,
 
-    #[serde(rename = "Principals")]
+    #[serde(rename = "Principals", default)]
     principals: Vec<PrincipalAlias>,
 
     fallback_controller_principals: Vec<String>, // Principal (alias)
diff --git a/rs/sns/cli/src/init_config_file/friendly/friendly_tests.rs b/rs/sns/cli/src/init_config_file/friendly/friendly_tests.rs
index 0d30e5dbe02..e9f8f42b7cd 100644
--- a/rs/sns/cli/src/init_config_file/friendly/friendly_tests.rs
+++ b/rs/sns/cli/src/init_config_file/friendly/friendly_tests.rs
@@ -23,28 +23,7 @@ fn test_parse() {
         logo: PathBuf::from("test.png"),
         url: "https://some-link-to-a-project.org".to_string(),
 
-        principals: vec![
-            PrincipalAlias {
-                id: "5zxxw-63ouu-faaaa-aaaap-4ai".to_string(),
-                name: Some("Bruce Wayne".to_string()),
-                email: Some("batman@superherosinc.com".to_string()),
-            },
-            PrincipalAlias {
-                id: PrincipalId::new_user_test_id(746890).to_string(),
-                name: Some("Alfred Pennyworth".to_string()),
-                email: None,
-            },
-            PrincipalAlias {
-                id: "c2n4r-wni5m-dqaaa-aaaap-4ai".to_string(),
-                name: Some("employees (canister)".to_string()),
-                email: None,
-            },
-            PrincipalAlias {
-                id: "ucm27-3lxwy-faaaa-aaaap-4ai".to_string(),
-                name: Some("departments (canister)".to_string()),
-                email: None,
-            },
-        ],
+        principals: vec![],
 
         fallback_controller_principals: vec!["5zxxw-63ouu-faaaa-aaaap-4ai".to_string()],
         dapp_canisters: vec![
diff --git a/rs/sns/cli/test_sns_init_v2.yaml b/rs/sns/cli/test_sns_init_v2.yaml
index 5d42145c073..65fc699f00f 100644
--- a/rs/sns/cli/test_sns_init_v2.yaml
+++ b/rs/sns/cli/test_sns_init_v2.yaml
@@ -12,18 +12,6 @@ NnsProposal:
     url: "https://forum.dfinity.org/thread-where-this-sns-is-discussed"
     summary: "This is just a short summary, but I think it's pretty good."
 
-
-Principals:
-    - id: 5zxxw-63ouu-faaaa-aaaap-4ai
-      name: Bruce Wayne
-      email: batman@superherosinc.com
-    - id: uqf5l-jukmu-fqaaa-aaaap-4ai
-      name: Alfred Pennyworth
-    - id: c2n4r-wni5m-dqaaa-aaaap-4ai
-      name: employees (canister)
-    - id: ucm27-3lxwy-faaaa-aaaap-4ai
-      name: departments (canister)
-
 fallback_controller_principals:
     - 5zxxw-63ouu-faaaa-aaaap-4ai # TODO: Bruce Wayne