diff --git a/clients/http-support/src/main/java/org/eclipse/sw360/http/NewResponseImpl.java b/clients/http-support/src/main/java/org/eclipse/sw360/http/NewResponseImpl.java
index 8856fcc38a..348cb4eb43 100644
--- a/clients/http-support/src/main/java/org/eclipse/sw360/http/NewResponseImpl.java
+++ b/clients/http-support/src/main/java/org/eclipse/sw360/http/NewResponseImpl.java
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ public Set<String> headerNames() {
 
     @Override
     public String header(String name) {
-        return response.headers().firstValue(name).orElse("");
+        return response.headers().firstValue(name).orElse(null);
     }
 
     @Override