diff --git a/src/webapp/src/org/apache/solr/servlet/LogLevelSelection.java b/src/webapp/src/org/apache/solr/servlet/LogLevelSelection.java
index 54ca53ced42..78d9d44ee63 100644
--- a/src/webapp/src/org/apache/solr/servlet/LogLevelSelection.java
+++ b/src/webapp/src/org/apache/solr/servlet/LogLevelSelection.java
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ public final class LogLevelSelection extends HttpServlet {
         level = l;
       }
     }
-    return level;
+    return level != null ? level : Level.OFF;
   }
 
   private static class LogWrapper