diff --git a/web/src/main/java/org/fao/geonet/proxy/URITemplateProxyServlet.java b/web/src/main/java/org/fao/geonet/proxy/URITemplateProxyServlet.java
index 11bf5dab9a2..fc12254a97c 100644
--- a/web/src/main/java/org/fao/geonet/proxy/URITemplateProxyServlet.java
+++ b/web/src/main/java/org/fao/geonet/proxy/URITemplateProxyServlet.java
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ protected void initTarget() throws ServletException {
         // If not set externally try to use the value from web.xml
         if (StringUtils.isBlank(targetUriTemplate)) {
             targetUriTemplate = getConfigParam(P_TARGET_URI);
-            if (StringUtils.isBlank(targetUriTemplate)) {
+            if (targetUriTemplate == null) {
                 throw new ServletException(P_TARGET_URI + "  is required in web.xml or set externally");
             }
         }