diff --git a/moto/apigateway/models.py b/moto/apigateway/models.py
index 9d6305ef9..042ce84ac 100644
--- a/moto/apigateway/models.py
+++ b/moto/apigateway/models.py
@@ -332,13 +332,13 @@ class ApiKey(BaseModel, dict):
 
 class UsagePlan(BaseModel, dict):
 
-    def __init__(self, name=None, description=None, apiStages=[],
+    def __init__(self, name=None, description=None, apiStages=None,
                  throttle=None, quota=None):
         super(UsagePlan, self).__init__()
         self['id'] = create_id()
         self['name'] = name
         self['description'] = description
-        self['apiStages'] = apiStages
+        self['apiStages'] = apiStages if apiStages else []
         self['throttle'] = throttle
         self['quota'] = quota