diff --git a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/components/configurer/DefaultConfigurer.java b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/components/configurer/DefaultConfigurer.java
index e0e2f15b6..e36888e99 100644
--- a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/components/configurer/DefaultConfigurer.java
+++ b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/components/configurer/DefaultConfigurer.java
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ public class DefaultConfigurer
                 getLogger().debug( message, ce );
             }
 
-            return false;
+            throw new ConfigurationException( ce.getMessage(), ce );
         }
         catch( final Exception e )
         {
@@ -296,6 +296,11 @@ public class DefaultConfigurer
             throw new ConfigurationException( message, e );
         }
 
+        if( null == value )
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
         try
         {
             method.invoke( object, new Object[]{value} );