diff --git a/dependency-check-utils/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/utils/Settings.java b/dependency-check-utils/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/utils/Settings.java
index 68cde6883..8f1f38147 100644
--- a/dependency-check-utils/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/utils/Settings.java
+++ b/dependency-check-utils/src/main/java/org/owasp/dependencycheck/utils/Settings.java
@@ -743,7 +743,9 @@ public final class Settings {
         try {
             value = Integer.parseInt(Settings.getString(key));
         } catch (NumberFormatException ex) {
-            LOGGER.debug("Could not convert property '{}={}' to an int; using {} instead.", key, Settings.getString(key), defaultValue);
+            if (!Settings.getString(key, "").isEmpty()) {
+                LOGGER.debug("Could not convert property '{}={}' to an int; using {} instead.", key, Settings.getString(key), defaultValue);
+            }
             value = defaultValue;
         }
         return value;