diff --git a/dynamicweb/settings/base.py b/dynamicweb/settings/base.py
index 735cd913..ca8996d1 100644
--- a/dynamicweb/settings/base.py
+++ b/dynamicweb/settings/base.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def int_env(val, default_value=0):
              "details: {}").format(
                 val, str(e)))
 
-    return return_value
+    return return_value if return_value is not None else default_value
 
 
 BASE_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))