diff --git a/flatlaf-core/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/UIDefaultsLoader.java b/flatlaf-core/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/UIDefaultsLoader.java
index f020a708..9e9f0c58 100644
--- a/flatlaf-core/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/UIDefaultsLoader.java
+++ b/flatlaf-core/src/main/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/UIDefaultsLoader.java
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ class UIDefaultsLoader
 		value = value.trim();
 
 		// null
-		if( value.equals( "null" ) ) {
+		if( value.equals( "null" ) || value.isEmpty() ) {
 			resultValueType[0] = ValueType.NULL;
 			return null;
 		}
diff --git a/flatlaf-core/src/test/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/TestUIDefaultsLoader.java b/flatlaf-core/src/test/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/TestUIDefaultsLoader.java
index 5e965b57..34f6986d 100644
--- a/flatlaf-core/src/test/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/TestUIDefaultsLoader.java
+++ b/flatlaf-core/src/test/java/com/formdev/flatlaf/TestUIDefaultsLoader.java
@@ -79,7 +79,6 @@ public class TestUIDefaultsLoader
 	void parseFonts() {
 		// style
 		UIManager.put( "defaultFont", new Font( Font.DIALOG, Font.PLAIN, 10 ) );
-		assertFontEquals( Font.DIALOG, Font.PLAIN, 10, "" );
 		assertFontEquals( Font.DIALOG, Font.PLAIN, 10, "normal" );
 		assertFontEquals( Font.DIALOG, Font.BOLD, 10, "bold" );
 		assertFontEquals( Font.DIALOG, Font.ITALIC, 10, "italic" );