diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index f322fde..0482201 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ char *proxy_config_get_proxy(const char *scheme) {
 
 char *proxy_config_get_bypass_list(void) {
     if (g_proxy_config.bypass_list)
-        return strdup(g_proxy_config.bypass_list);
+        return *g_proxy_config.bypass_list ? strdup(g_proxy_config.bypass_list) : NULL;
     if (!g_proxy_config.proxy_config_i)
         return NULL;
     return g_proxy_config.proxy_config_i->get_bypass_list();
diff --git a/doc/proxy_config.md b/doc/proxy_config.md
index bebd405..b2744e9 100644
--- a/doc/proxy_config.md
+++ b/doc/proxy_config.md
@@ -118,6 +118,9 @@ Override the user's configured proxy bypass list.
 |-|-|:-|
 |const char *|bypass_list|Comma-separated list of proxy bypass expressions.|
 
+Pass `NULL` to use the proxy bypass list configured on the user's system (default behavior).
+Pass the empty string `""` to avoid bypassing the proxy.
+
 **Example**
 ```c
 proxy_config_set_bypass_list_override("complex.com,welldone.com");