diff --git a/moto/athena/models.py b/moto/athena/models.py
index 78eee9313..4fec79325 100644
--- a/moto/athena/models.py
+++ b/moto/athena/models.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class WorkGroup(TaggableResourceMixin, BaseModel):
         self,
         athena_backend: "AthenaBackend",
         name: str,
-        configuration: str,
+        configuration: Dict[str, Any],
         description: str,
         tags: List[Dict[str, str]],
     ):
@@ -161,7 +161,9 @@ class AthenaBackend(BaseBackend):
         self.prepared_statements: Dict[str, PreparedStatement] = {}
 
         # Initialise with the primary workgroup
-        self.create_work_group("primary", "", "", [])
+        self.create_work_group(
+            name="primary", description="", configuration=dict(), tags=[]
+        )
 
     @staticmethod
     def default_vpc_endpoint_service(
@@ -175,7 +177,7 @@ class AthenaBackend(BaseBackend):
     def create_work_group(
         self,
         name: str,
-        configuration: str,
+        configuration: Dict[str, Any],
         description: str,
         tags: List[Dict[str, str]],
     ) -> Optional[WorkGroup]:
diff --git a/tests/test_athena/test_athena.py b/tests/test_athena/test_athena.py
index 1389511ef..12bc320bd 100644
--- a/tests/test_athena/test_athena.py
+++ b/tests/test_athena/test_athena.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ from moto.core import DEFAULT_ACCOUNT_ID
 def test_create_work_group():
     client = boto3.client("athena", region_name="us-east-1")
 
-    response = client.create_work_group(
+    client.create_work_group(
         Name="athena_workgroup",
         Description="Test work group",
         Configuration={
@@ -24,12 +24,11 @@ def test_create_work_group():
                 },
             }
         },
-        Tags=[],
     )
 
     try:
         # The second time should throw an error
-        response = client.create_work_group(
+        client.create_work_group(
             Name="athena_workgroup",
             Description="duplicate",
             Configuration={
@@ -61,6 +60,16 @@ def test_create_work_group():
     work_group["State"].should.equal("ENABLED")
 
 
+@mock_athena
+def test_get_primary_workgroup():
+    client = boto3.client("athena", region_name="us-east-1")
+    assert len(client.list_work_groups()["WorkGroups"]) == 1
+
+    primary = client.get_work_group(WorkGroup="primary")["WorkGroup"]
+    assert primary["Name"] == "primary"
+    assert primary["Configuration"] == {}
+
+
 @mock_athena
 def test_create_and_get_workgroup():
     client = boto3.client("athena", region_name="us-east-1")