diff --git a/framework/src/play/jobs/JobsPlugin.java b/framework/src/play/jobs/JobsPlugin.java
index 12d07c4ca1..660a376d26 100644
--- a/framework/src/play/jobs/JobsPlugin.java
+++ b/framework/src/play/jobs/JobsPlugin.java
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ public static <V> void scheduleForCRON(Job<V> job) {
         }
         String cron = job.getClass().getAnnotation(On.class).value();
         if (cron.startsWith("cron.")) {
-            cron = Play.configuration.getProperty(cron);
+            cron = Play.configuration.getProperty(cron, "");
         }
         cron = Expression.evaluate(cron, cron).toString();
         if (cron == null || cron.isEmpty() || "never".equalsIgnoreCase(cron)) {