diff --git a/common-tools/clas-utils/src/main/java/org/jlab/utils/options/OptionValue.java b/common-tools/clas-utils/src/main/java/org/jlab/utils/options/OptionValue.java
index 5ffcac4963..684dba4aa7 100644
--- a/common-tools/clas-utils/src/main/java/org/jlab/utils/options/OptionValue.java
+++ b/common-tools/clas-utils/src/main/java/org/jlab/utils/options/OptionValue.java
@@ -55,6 +55,6 @@ public boolean parse(List<String> arguments){
     }
 
     public boolean isDefault() {
-        return this.optionValue.equals(this.optionDefault);
+        return this.optionValue==null || this.optionValue.equals(this.optionDefault);
     }
 }